Chapter 2: The Baby Shower
Susan Long had so many relatives she had to reserve a hall to hold a baby shower for her youngest son Eric just like she did for her other children Jake and Haley. This time, however, the hall would become relatively emptier since not only Susan's relatives were now aware of the fact her husband is/was a dragon slayer but Eric had the birthmark. It was already enough of a trouble for her to convince the employees of her catering service to work at that party without a bonus for danger. What eventually convinced them was the fact that Jonathan's sister was attending the shower and didn't know of the Magical World. The elves knew that the Huntsclan wouldn't risk exposing it to humans not in the know.
Jonathan Long was discussing some details with Jake and Haley when they saw Rose and Trixie showing up. "Rose." Jake exclaimed as he ran to hug his girlfriend. "Glad to see you here."
"Yo, Jakey. Am I invisible?" Trixie complained.
"No but, where's Spud?" Jake asked as he noticed the absence of his brown-haired friend. "I thought he'd be coming with you."
"Oh, Spudboy is carrying some heavy stuff and it's slowing him." Trixie explained. "Homegirl here is carrying one of those bags."
'He must be holding the heaviest one.' Jake thought.
"Where do I leave this one, Jake?" Rose asked.
"Leave it to me, Rose." Jake replied. She then handed him the bag and it turned out to be so heavy Jake fell with its weight. "Strength of the dragon." Jake whispered and then started to carry the bag to a corner. 'What does she eat to be that strong? I hope it's not spinach.'
Later on, Spud arrived and was panting while carrying another bag. "Where's the one you've been carrying, Rose?" He asked.
"Jake took it there." Rose answered. "May I take this one there as well?"
"Yes, please." He said and then she easily carried it away. "Man, what does she eat to be like that?"
"I don't know but I hope it's not spinach." Jake answered.
"What if it's dragon?" Spud asked in desperation.
"Nah, they'd starve to death if they needed that sort of eating habit." Jake answered. "But now I'm wishing it's spinach. What do you have in those bags?"
"Pipes." Spud answered to the bemusement of his friends.
"Pipes?" Jake, Trixie and Rose asked him.
"Yes." He simply answered. "To build the shower."
"Spud, baby showers aren't about this kind of shower." Jonathan explained.
"Then how can it be called a baby shower without any showers to show… oh, it's a baby shower because you're showing a baby." Spud finally understood.
"Are you sure this boy is a genius, Jakers?" Jonathan asked while whispering at Jake's right ear.
"Not anymore, Dad." Jake sadly answered.
Cathy and Greggy arrived. "Welcome to the baby shower, Cathy." Lao Shi greeted her.
"Gregory and I wouldn't miss it for anything on the world, Uncle Lao Shi." She replied. "We're here to show I'm not afraid of any slayers."
"Please do your Huntsgirl voice." Jake pleaded to Rose. "I want to see him scared."
"Is that true, dragon?" Rose asked with Huntsgirl tone to tease Jake for that but it ended up doing what her boyfriend wanted.
"Mommy, I want to leave!" Greggy pleaded.
"That'll keep him in his place." Jake commented.
"What do you think you're doing?" Lao Shi angrily asked.
"Teaching Greggy a lesson about being too arrogant?" Jake replied in hopes of placating his Grandfather.
"Good answer, young one." Lao Shi calmly replied.
Patchouli Long then arrived. "Am I too soon? Usually there are more relatives from Susan's side of the family by the time I arrive."
"Some of them aren't coming this time." Susan sadly replied. Noticing the sadness, Patchouli refused to ask further questions. Knowing that Patchouli remained a human who didn't know about the Magical World, Cathy and Greggy refused to discuss magic after she arrived.
"Where's my new nephew?" Patchouli cutely asked. Susan then showed a baby bug with little Eric Daniel Long. "Hello, Eric." She cooed. "I'm your Auntie Patchouli."
"Goo goo." Eric said.
"So cute." Patchouli commented.
"Come on, Gregory." Cathy said. "Say hello to your new cousin. There's nothing to be afraid of."
"Yes, mother." Greggy said after having his ego inflated at the idea of showing Jake he's not afraid of a slayer. He then approached Eric.
"Somebody's gonna need a diaper change." Haley sung in mockery.
"Haley, I know Greggy's face might be scary for a baby but I don't think Eric…" Jonathan said until his daughter interrupted him.
"I didn't mean Eric, Dad." She explained.
"You're lucky we're in the presence of a human who doesn't know of the Magical World or I'd show you what I can do, slayer." Greggy whispered to Eric, who replied with "Goo goo."
"Yeah, keep up with the baby act." Greggy arrogantly said.
"Greggy doesn't seem to like your son very much, Jonathan." Patchouli told her brother.
"Give him some time, Patchouli." Jonathan reassured her. He wouldn't tell her about his wife's side of the family being dragons so those vague advices were the best he could do.
"Atchoo." They heard an elderly woman sneeze. She couldn't help but resume her dragon form whenever she did it. It didn't last long enough to give anyone a chance to make a full assessment but it was still a cause for concern. "Madam, you wouldn't mind staying away from the baby, would you?" Jonathan sternly asked. It was not only for secrecy but also a genuine concern over Eric's health. "You don't want Eric to catch any disease, right?"
"Speak for yourself, slayer." She replied and then remembered of the human who didn't know about the Magical World. "I mean sorry, Jonathan."
"Jake! Jake!" Patchouli called for her eldest nephew. "Would you take a picture of me with widdle Eric?"
"Sure, Aunt Patchouli." Jake gladly answered.
Meanwhile, Haley was approached by her cousin Andrew. "Haley, you must be ashamed of your brother." He commented.
"No, Andrew." Haley answered. "My brief time as the American Dragon made me respect Jake for the hard work he does."
"I meant the slayer." Andrew explained. "It must be hard for a dragon to be respected when one of their siblings is a slayer."
No matter how much Haley feared Eric because of the birthmark, she'd not let this go. "Eric is a newborn. He did nothing wrong."
"Yet." Andrew said and then left. It'd be a long baby shower. No pun intended.
End chapter.
