It's two a.m., I'm very sleepy, and I have stuff to do tomorrow. So, I'll rant about how awesome you guys are in my next chapter. You asked, I delivered.
Edit: I fixed all my mistakes. Sorry about that.
Enjoy!
"So…" Clare trailed off, pushing the food on her plate around. Eli didn't look up.
"So…" He mimicked, smirking. Clare rolled her eyes at her husband. "What is it?" He asked, finishing up his dinner.
"Maria, our neighbor, is having a baby shower. She invited me to come." Eli looked up from his plate and smiled sweetly, not realizing the emphasis she put on the word 'baby.'
"That's nice. I didn't even know we had a neighbor named Maria." He admitted with a shrug. Clare gnawed on her lower lip, deciding to try a different direction.
"Did you like your baby carrots?" She asked, emphasizing the word again. Eli shrugged.
"They were okay." He stood and brought his plate to the sink. Clare rolled her eyes. This was obviously getting her nowhere. She was procrastinating. But, could you blame her? She was scared to tell her husband of only six months that she was pregnant.
Already a month along. Clare sighed. She should be happy. She loved Eli and wanted to start a family with him, but she wasn't sure how keen he was on having children.
"Can I ask you something?" She asked after finishing off her plate and placing it in the sink. Eli rolled up his sleeves and started to wash hers.
"You know you can." He stated simply. Clare felt her heart beat increase when she opened her mouth.
"W-What would you say…if I told you…that I…uhh…had a bun cooking in the oven?" She finished her stutter stupidly. Bun in the oven? What was she, twelve?
Eli, not having caught the reference, just shrugged.
"I guess I'd say don't burn it?" He answered, unsure of what she was asking or how he was supposed to respond. Clare sighed and ran a hand through her hair.
"No," She hissed. "I mean…I do have a bun in the oven! I've…had it there for a month." She dropped her voice to a whisper.
"Umm…" Eli stuttered, shutting off the faucet and drying his hands on his jeans. He leaned against the counter, confused as hell. "Don't you think you should take it out?" Had his wife always been this cryptic?
She wanted to hit herself. Has he always been this stupid? She thought.
"Follow the breadcrumbs, Hansel! I'm pregnant!" Clare blurted out. Eli froze as two and two came together.
Oh. Now, he got it. Bun in the oven. All those baby references. She was pregnant. My wife is pregnant. Clare grew more anxious with every second that ticked by where he had not spoken.
"Uhh…" He struggled to form a complete sentence. What would he say? Clare took his silence and stutters the wrong way.
"Do…do you not want a baby?" She asked. She knew they were young and still newlyweds, but still. Eli shook his head slowly, trying to think clearly. Tears welled up in Clare's eyes, as she mumbled a barely inaudible 'oh.'
Eli realized how scared she was and that he wasn't assessing the situation. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into an embrace.
"Of course, I want a baby." He assured.
"Y-You aren't mad, or sad, or scared?" She asked, letting her arms fall to her side limply. Eli started to laugh.
"Mad and sad? Of course not. But, I am scared shitless." She laughed along and wrapped her arms around his torso.
"I'm scared, too." She admitted. "But, I'm also very happy." She looked up at him, her chin resting comfortably against his chest as she stared up at him.
"I'm happy, too. But, I don't know how good of a father I can be. I'm still young." Clare nodded in understanding. "But, I've always dreamed of starting a family with you. So, I guess it'll happen sooner rather than later." Clare beamed up at him.
"Looks like we'll have to start planning lots of stuff." Eli mumbled, leading Clare into their bedroom. Clare nodded and sat down. Eli kneeled in front of her and placed a hand on her stomach.
"Yes, but first we have to figure out a way to tell our friends and family." Clare reminded. Eli sighed. Well, this would be interesting.
X
Their parents reacted just as they predicted. Both mothers burst into tears while their fathers looked slightly unnerved. Alli had cried and sniveled, continuously touching Clare's tummy. When they announced that she was the godmother, she all but fainted.
Adam just felt pure happiness for his two best friends. He even got teary eyed at the fact that they had wanted him to be the godfather.
Darcy couldn't stop screaming and cheering, while Darcy's children kept going on and on about how cool it was going to be having a baby cousin.
Clare smiled while Darcy announced plans for a baby shower.
X
"I just don't understand why people keep touching my stomach. I mean, sure, I'm pregnant and all, but it's like there's a huge sign pointing to my stomach, announcing' touch me!'" Eli laughed as Clare pouted, wobbling slightly as she walked beside her husband. She couldn't believe this was already her eighth month.
"I guess it's to be expected." He said, reaching over to touch her abnormally large stomach.
"Touch it, and you'll be pulling back a stub." She warned. Eli laughed nervously as he let his outstretched hand fall limply to his side.
They finally reached the car, placing the groceries in the back of Clare's mini SUV. Morty was still around, just not used as frequently. She stopped midway in handing him the final bag.
"What's wrong?" He asked, watching as she looked down at herself.
"I think my water just broke."
X
Eli had freaked. He danced dangerously close to the speed limit as he made his way to the hospital. He called his mother-in-law and ordered her to bring the hospital bag. Of course, as soon as they reached the hospital, Clare's contractions had started.
Two hours later, full of chaos and emotions, Clare was finally in labor, screaming her head off. Eli and Clare's mother had been allowed in the room.
"You're doing wonderful, sweetheart. Keep at it, baby. You and I both know that you're strong enough-"
"Shut up!" Clare screeched, tired of Eli's words of encouragement. Her hand held his in a death grip as the doctor commanded her to push. She was scary during labor, Eli noted.
When Adam had walked in with a video camera in hand, Clare shrieked at him to get out. When Alli had tried to film the moment, she merely fainted, and had to be dragged out of the room.
X
One half hour later, the daughter of Clare and Eli had finally been delivered. Finally, the nightmare had ended, and Clare sobbed as she held her baby in her arms.
"What should we name her?" She asked Eli, after everyone had gotten to hold her and view her. Eli shrugged.
"How about Alice?" She asked, smiling slightly. Eli thought about it for a moment, before nodding enthusiastically.
"It's beautiful." He kissed his wife and his newborn child. "Welcome to the family, Alice Goldsworthy."
Fin! Yeah, who wouldn't love to see Clare in labor? Okay, I named their baby Alice not because I have a sick obsession with Alice in Wonderland, but because it could be considered a diminutive form of Aislinn, the actress who portrays Clare on Degrassi.
Did I hit or miss? Leave a review!
~S.S.