Description: Lucas and Gina find themselves having a conversation about babies and end up being asked to babysit Tori. Needless to say, havoc ensues.
"Had you thought about, you know, having kids someday?"
The question took Lucas completely by suprise. Sure, he wanted kids but it was a terrifying prospect-becoming a parent. "Yeah, one day, but don't you think it's a little early?"
Gina crossed her arms and stared at her husband. "No, I don't," she said quietly. "Remember how many times Toby and Jessica had to try before they ended up with Tori?"
As a matter of fact, Lucas did remember. That had been a year or so of heartbreak and tears. Now they had their daughter, who, come to think of it, Lucas was pretty sure was almost a year old. He felt bad, not knowing the exact age of his own goddaughter but he was sure she wouldn't mind.
"I can't believe she's nearly a year old already!" Gina gushes excitedly. Lucas opened his mouth to reply but, on closer inspection, he saw that she held her phone tightly to her ear. Judging by her mannerisms, she was talking to Jessica. Lucas couldn't hear what Jessica was saying so he focused on the side of the conversation he could hear:
"What? The babysitter's sick? Oh no, that's terrible! Wait, you're not going to cancel that night out, are you?"
"We'll do it! Lucas and I can babysit! You guys deserve some time alone. Besides how much havoc can an extraordinarily advanced toddler create?"
"Don't be silly! We'll be fine! We'll pick her up this afternoon, Jess. Okay, bye!" Gina hung up and turned to face Lucas, whose expression was terrified. "What's wrong with you?"
"P-Please tell me you didn't just say we'd babysit Tori?" Lucas asked in a voice that made it clear he already knew the answer. Gina frowned and nodded, not seeing why Lucas was getting so worked up.
"Come on, we'd better go and pick her up," she muttered, grabbing her car keys and heading out the door. Lucas shook his head and followed her, hoping that Gina knew what she was getting them into.
At the Tripp's house, they were greeted by a cry of, "Auntie Gina, Uncle Wucas! You're here!" The unmistakable sound of toddler footsteps could be heard as a small blonde girl ran towards them. Gina lifted her up and smiled.
"My, haven't you grown?" She asked the wriggling toddler, setting her down on the ground. Tori nodded her head proudly, bouncing up and down excitedly. Gina wondered where she got all her energy from.
"Hello Uncle Wucas." Tori greeted, turning to Lucas and fixing him with an adorable smile that only toddlers could pull off. Lucas chuckled quietly to himself. Despite Tori being what Gina called "an extraordinarily advanced toddler," she still made cute little mistakes when she spoke, like most toddlers. Unlike the others, however, Tori could already comprise simple sentences, not that many made sense!
"Tori!" All three of them jumped and turned around to see Toby giving them a stern look. "How many times have I told you not to go running out the door like that? What if it wasn't Lucas and Gina, what if it was a bad person who took you away? You'd never see-"
"Geez, Toby, relax, she's fine!" Lucas laughed, amused. Toby was worse than a mare with her first foal (now that was an experience Lucas really wished he could forget). In other words, he was extremely overprotective which, at times like this, was highly amusing but could probably end up being really annoying.
Tori ran to Toby who scooped her up and carried her inside, calling over his shoulder, "Well, don't just stand there like lost lemons, come in!" Lucas and Gina hastily obeyed, stepping over the array of baby toys on the floor.
Jessica entered the room and made a beeline for them, carrying two mugs of coffee "Sorry about everything being so last-minute," she said apologetically. "You guys are great for doing this! Hey, when you have kids, I prom-"
Lucas interrupted her by suddenly coughing and choking on his coffee. The choking/coughing fit lasted for about ten minutes before he managed to get control of himself.
Toby and Jessica frowned. Something about this was bothering Lucas but what could it possibly be? Jessica nudged her husband and discreetly pointed at Lucas, mouthing "Talk to him," before dragging Gina out the door, saying something about baby seats.
Toby sighed and approached his friend. "You okay?"
Lucas jumped, "Y-Yeah, why?"
"Seriously, Lucas," Toby began. "If you really don't want to babysit, I underst-"
"It's not that!" Lucas began. "It's-never mind, you'll think I'm stupid!"
Toby's reply was simple. "Try me."
Lucas sighed and sat down, "Well, I want to be a father one day but now is just too early for me. I can't be a parent now! I didn't even remember how old Tori was! They grow up too fast and it scares me! What am I going to do?"
Toby was confused. As far as he knew, Gina wasn't pregnant; it probably would have been the first thing she'd announce to them if that was the case. All of a sudden, it hit him, "You're worried that if Gina spends time with Tori, it'll make her broody?" When Lucas nodded in reply, Toby gave him a sympathetic look. "Why didn't you say something then?"
"Because it would have crushed her." Lucas replied quietly. Toby clapped a hand on his shoulder and stood up, facing him. "Besides, it's alright for you; you're a natural at this and you don't worry about anything.
"I don't worry about anything?" Toby began incredulously. "You're kidding, right? I worry about everything now; occupational hazard of being a father, you know." He started pacing whilst he spoke and Lucas noticed that Tori had definitely inherited her father's inability to stay still. "When I found out Jessica was pregnant and there was a chance the baby might actually make it to full term, I was terrified. Scared of potentially losing them both but a tiny part of me was also scared of embracing the responsibility that came with parenthood. Of course, that flew straight out the window once I'd held her. I knew at that moment that I wouldn't be a perfect father but I was going to be the best one I possibly could. When you have a daughter, you see, you'd do anything just to keep them happy and safe. One day, you'll understand."
Lucas felt awful. He was panicking over potentially being a father when he had nothing to worry about. He nodded numbly in response and they both stood as Jessica and Gina came back into the room.
"We're ready to go!" Gina smiled at him. He stood up, waved to Jessica and Toby and they both walked to their car where Tori was already strapped in, bouncing impatiently. "Bye, guys, have a great time! Tori'll be alright with us, won't you?" The little girl nodded her head enthusiastically, causing the adults to laugh at her earnest expression.
As they drove back to their house, Tori sat back in her seat. This was going to be the best fun ever! No parents to tell her "No." It would be great.
"Well, we're here!" Gina called out, as she and Lucas got out the car. She walked round the back and unfastened Tori from the baby seat, lifting her out and setting her down on the ground. The little girl looked at her curiously, blue eyes glowing brightly with the inquisitiveness only children seemed to possess. "Go on!" Gina said kindly, and with that, Tori raced into the house as fast as her tiny legs could carry her.
"Are you sure about this?" Lucas asked, earning himself a quizzical look, courtesy of Gina. "After all, she is Toby's daughter; who knows what sort of mischief she'll get into."
"I'm sure she'll be fine," Gina replied calmly. "All we have to do is keep our heads. Everything will be fine, you'll see..."
Hours later
"Oh no, where is she? Lucas, what are we going to do? We've lost her!" Gina panicked, rushing around the house and yelling Tori's name.
"Calm down, Gina. We don't even know if we have lost her yet." Lucas said, trying to calm his panicking wife.
"But we've looked everywhere! Where else could she be?" Gina started to sob and Lucas started towards her. "I'm a terrible babysitter; how can I look after a child of my own when I can't even look after my own goddaughter for a few hours?"
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Lucas stood up and walked toward the hallway. "I'll get it," he said, stepping over a stuffed bunny toy. "It's probably Toby and Jessica here to pick up Tori." He opened the door and Toby and Jessica piled in. "Look, now before you panic or anything, I can totally explain!"
"Explain what?" They said together, giving Lucas the patented glare that meant "if you don't tell us what's going on, then you will suffer our wrath!" Lucas shuddered under their gaze; their combined glares downright freaked him out.
"Well, you see, the thing is, we've kind of lo-"
"Mommy! Daddy!" A high pitched cry sounded as Tori whizzed through the kitchen door like an arrow, almost knocking Lucas off his feet, and jumping straight into Toby's arms. "Uncle Wucas and Auntie Gina are really bad at hide and seek. They couldn't find me at all!" She giggled, before letting out a huge yawn. It seemed that spending the whole day hidden had worn her out because, seconds later, she had fallen asleep.
Gina entered the hallway and in hushed voices, they both explained to Jessica what had happened. Once it had become clear to all of them what had been going on, they all started laughing, only stopping when Toby hissed, "Keep it down! Tori's asleep!"
Lucas laughed, "Whatever you say, Mother Goose," which created a fresh round of laughter.
After Jessica and Toby, who was carrying a sleeping Tori, left, Lucas turned and hugged Gina. "I want kids one day, just not right now. I just don't think I'll be ready ,but in a year or so, maybe?"
The look Gina gave him was filled with relief. "Thank goodness! I'm not ready yet either! I thought I was, until we had to babysit Tori. Maybe a year or two will help us harness our parenting skills."
"Well, to be fair, Tori is her father's daughter. Even they can't handle her sometimes!" Lucas told her, making a promise that when he did have a child, he would be the best father he could possibly be.
Approximately 1 year later
It was on January 22, 2020 that Louise Charlotte Wanson was born. Lucas had been terrified as the labour had been premature. The look of utter relief on his face when the midwife told him that both mother and baby were doing well was clear to everyone.
The moment he held Louise in his arms, Lucas understood what Toby meant. Being a parent was the best feeling; he had someone to look up to him. She relied upon him for protection.
"I'll do my best. I'll protect you both." He told his wife and newborn daughter. "I'll be the best I can for you."