It was Spring Break. Most kids were at the beach, or visiting relatives, or, if they were lucky, on a real vacation somewhere. Kat and Patrick, however, had been home all day, Kat was, of course, banned from leaving the house (she was honestly surprised that her dad hadn't bought an ankle bracelet). And Patrick had simply said that he didn't feel like going out (though the truth was, he couldn't think of anywhere he'd rather be than hanging out with Kat...as long as she didn't have another stress-induced freak-out).

Walter had called on his way home from work, saying he had a "surprise" for the two kids, and so at five-thirty in the evening, they were sitting in the living room, waiting for Walter to show them what he had.

"Kat," her father started, "you can take off the sympathy belly."

Kat barely let her dad finish his sentence before ripping the cumbersome lump off her stomach. She laughed and sank into the couch, bringing her knees all the way up to her chest in exaltation. "Thank you, dad," she sighed.

"Five days you were wearing that," Walter lectured. "Imagine wearing it for nine months."

"I literally have nightmares about it now, thank you very much."

"So," Patrick interrupted, "does that mean her punishment is over? Is that your big surprise?"

"That particular phase of the punishment is over, yes. But let me see, what happens after pregnancy...oh yes!" He brought out what he had hidden behind the couch. It was a baby seat with a doll sitting inside. "After the pregnancy, comes the baby!"

Patrick stared, wide-eyed, not believing what he was seeing. This guy was completely unhinged. "Kat has to take care of a doll?"

"No no no!" Walter protested, clearly excited about his brilliant punishment. "Not a doll. This is a state-of-the-art baby simulator. She cries, she eats, she poops. Well, not literally, but she will cry and you will rock her, or feed her, or change her diaper. And no, it's not just Kat who will be taking care of her." Walter grinned his evil smile again. "Come on, you're the big man, Pat."

"Patrick," he corrected.

"You said you were going to be here for Kat. Let's see you put your money where your mouth is." As if on cue, the baby started to cry; it was a horrible, mechanical sound but just real enough to be stressful.

Patrick stared helplessly at Kat, who was suddenly very amused by the whole situation. She just shrugged and passed him the fake baby bottle. "Make sure you support little Jane's head when you pick her up," she teased.

Cautiously, Patrick picked the baby up out of its seat and put the bottle up to its lips. The speaker on its back started making a sucking noise as if the baby were drinking. In spite of himself, Patrick grinned. "I did it!" he said proudly. "Oh, I am so making father of the year."

Kat tilted her head and smiled, patting him on the back. "Congratulations, dad."

End Note: Okay, it's another heinously short chapter. But I have chapter six all written, I just have to edit it and fine-tune it. It should be up maybe tomorrow? And then the chapters'll start coming slower since that's as far as I have written. I have a basic outline, but since I don't actually have the chapters written, now is your chance to give your input. Is there anything you'd love to see in one of the chapters? I've got 5 more days to play with!