Chapter 17: New beginnings

Authors note: Ok firstly I am so sorry I haven't updated in ages but I have been busy doing other things and all that. But I am back now to write some more! Thanks yet again for all the reviews! I really appreciate it! This is set a year later from the previous events in the last chapter! Enjoy!

A year or so later everything went smoothly. The blues were proud to see a new gnome in their garden. Their future leader and the current leader's son! Blueberry and Gnorman were proud that they had a son and he was perfectly healthy not to mention cute for a gnome baby. They named him Gnomeo! It was Gnorman's idea to call him Gnomeo. He said he always liked that name and it would be perfect for their son. Blueberry loved the name too and wouldn't stop holding her new son in her arms even when he was asleep. Wisteria was also happy that she now had a little child to baby sit for her best friend. But she also had a small gift to give to the little gnome which would help him to grow up with a friend. Toadstool and his girlfriend also had their own child over this past year and had agreed with Wisteria that Gnomeo could have their child as a play mate to grow up with. Blueberry and Gnorman were surely thrilled to have the little mushroom they now called Shroom to look out for their baby. But other matters had to be dealt with first of all. Gnomeo and Shroom had to grow up a bit more first before they could look out for each other.

In the red garden on the other hand there was also good news on the way. June had been told that she was indeed pregnant a few days ago and Redbrick was still getting to grips with the fact that he was about to become a father. His relationship with his wife wasn't exactly running as well as they would have liked. They often argued and then made up again, but now they were overwhelmed with this good news their fights would soon become less common much to Pansy's displeasure. Oh and speaking of Pansy, Tybalt was about to reach his two year birthday! The child was growing up fast and looked more and more like his father everyday! But Pansy and Boris weren't like Blueberry and Gnorman; they weren't as enthusiastic over their child as Blueberry and Gnorman were over their little Gnomeo.

Also Miss Montague and Mr Capulet were still at their fights. Not only were they arguing within their gardens, but they were also taking it to the extremes and fighting in public places! On one occasion they both got kicked out of the supermarket when they crossed each others paths on their weekly shopping day. It took several security guards to separate them as they were yelling at each other about whose garden looked better right in front of normal families who were shopping. They often had squabbles over this and it didn't end well for either of them. But today they would find themselves together in the worst place so far… The garden centre!

…

Miss Montague pushed her small trolley around the garden centre with some effort. She had several bags of compost in her trolley, not to mention several new plants for her house and garden. She continued to push it down the gnome isle until she found herself bumping into someone. And that person was Mr Capulet!

"Watch where you're going you clumsy bat!" Mr Capulet spat as Miss Montague rolled her eyes.

"Oh God not you again. What do I have to do? Get a restraining order or something?" Miss Montague asked crossing her arms.

"That wouldn't be such a bad idea, but since we live next door to each other I don't think it would work," Mr Capulet replied.

"Well you can do me the favour of moving out of the way. I have several bags of compost here that need to go to the checkout and be paid for so if you'll excuse me…" Miss Montague said as she tried to push her trolley around Mr Capulet's and it was difficult because of where he had stuck it.

"Oh and if you think your bumper sticker is what you call funny humour I would have your head examined lady!" Mr Capulet called after her and Miss Montague turned around and smirked.

"Oh come now Mr Capulet… it may not be to your humour because you have none. Tell me, were you born with no sense of humour or did it just come to you later on in life?" Miss Montague teased.

"I do have a sense of humour! But when someone's bumper sticker reads 'Mr Capulet get a life and that jumper so isn't your colour' I don't find that at all amusing."

"Have it your way. I personally find it amusing because you're so picky about your jumpers. I suggest you go to a clothes store and find something which is in fashion. You're a 30 year old man and you have no sense of fashion. Get with the times Mr Capulet! We aren't in the 60's no more," Miss Montague smirked when Mr Capulet looked down at his jumper with a puzzled look. She then decided she had enough of arguing with him and attempted to make her way past him.

"Oh go away with you, you hippy! And it hardly surprises me you are a hippy! Don't you still have that hippy gnome in your garden?" Mr Capulet asked.

"Yes my Wisteria gnome still is in my garden thankfully after you decided to smash her hat off and then re-glue it for a laugh!" Miss Montague snapped. It was fortunate she didn't know the truth behind Wisteria's hat being smashed. Well she was smashed by a red gnome after all. But the humans didn't know that!

"I did no such thing. Your gnome must have some magical ability to re-mend itself or something. I most defiantly didn't smash or even touch your blasted gnome! Anyway why are you bringing this subject up again? That happened like 2 years ago!" Mr Capulet exclaimed.

"Well she was and still is one of my best gnomes in the whole garden. I shall never forgive you for destroying her precious hat and then having the nerve to glue it back with cheap superglue!" Miss Montague explained and Mr Capulet rolled his eyes.

"Do what you wish lady. Just leave me alone! I don't wish to make yet another scene in a public place and end up getting kicked out for it," Mr Capulet then did the honours of walking off first. Miss Montague turned around back to her shopping when she heard a voice from behind her say "Oh and if I was you, I would get rid of that bumper sticker. Or I will do something I may regret to your garden fence!" Mr Capulet warned before turning back round and turning into the next isle. Miss Montague just stuck her tongue out at him and then turned back to her shopping once again. Oh he could get on her wit at times!

…

In the red garden things were running quite smoothly. Well for a while at least. The humans were out, the day was clear and warm, nothing could get it down! Well other than Pansy and Boris planning their next line of attack on the blues. Several gnomes including them little gnomes Mr Capulet had brought several months ago were involved in this so called scheme. They were hooked ever since they had arrived and were always eager to take things out on the blue gnomes next door. And Pansy encouraged it! But for poor Tybalt on the other hand, putting up with this kind of mother wasn't the easiest way to grow up with was it?

"Now are plan of attack is quite simple, we'll smash their plant pots and show them whose plants are better! This should teach them to call our plants out of fashion," Pansy explained and all the little gnomes nodded eagerly. Pansy hardly noticed her two year old son come up behind her until she felt a small nudge on her dress.

"Mummy? Can I go out and play?" Little Tybalt asked shyly. Pansy turned around and looked down at her son with no particular gaze and replied.

"No Tybalt, go play on the pedestal," Pansy replied dully resulting in Tybalt frowning in disappointment.

"But why?" Tybalt moaned causing Pansy to stop what she was trying to do and glaring down at her son as she began to grow more impatient.

"Tybalt, we discussed this. Now do as you're told and do as I say."

"No mummy, I wanna know why you won't let me play with the other kids!" Tybalt shouted back to a stunned yet furious Pansy.

"Because they are not like you Tybalt, now go back to the pedestal!" Pansy demanded but Tybalt remained firm.

"No!"

"What did you just say?"

"I said no!" Tybalt said proudly crossing his arms and standing firm. Pansy felt as if she were a volcano about to explode as she raised her hand in the air and gave her son a good, hard smack across the face.

"Don't you DARE speak to me like that again! Do you understand?" Pansy roared as Tybalt began to cry. Pansy realized what she had just done in front of her friends and decided to cover it up by being nice to little Tybalt. "Oh Tybalt," Pansy knelt down and pretended to comfort him "Oh Tybalt I am so sorry, I didn't mean to hit you its just I hate it when things like this happen. Why can't you do as you're told hmm? I am your mother after all, and mothers like me know best."

"I guess so… I'm sorry mummy!" Tybalt then wrapped his arms around his mother and gave her a tight hug. Pansy hugged him back for a short while before realizing what she was doing.

"It's ok son, now go and play on the pedestal like I told you to," Pansy smiled receiving a sad smile from Tybalt he nodded and hugged her again.

"Thank you mummy!" Tybalt said before walking away again. Pansy got up and straightened herself off before turning back to her friends who were all gawping at her like maniacs.

"Well, stop looking at me like that! Now let's get back to some good old fashioned business shall we?" Pansy demanded and everyone decided to go with her requests and do as they were told. Because if they didn't, they would probably end up like poor little Tybalt.

…

"Ew Gnomeo!" Wisteria blurted as she held little Gnomeo in the air as something bad came out his rear end. Suddenly Blueberry rushed in as she heard Wisteria's voice call out.

"What's he done now? Number one or number two?" Blueberry asked as she approached her friend and grabbed her tiny son.

"I think it's a number one this time," Wisteria explained handing over Gnomeo to Blueberry while looking down at the floor where a small puddle now lay "gosh you really need to get some nappies for that kid!"

"I know. He peed on Gnorman's lap the other day, and by the look on his face he wasn't impressed. It was lucky I took a photo of it, so we can put that in your memory book. Oh and how is that coming along anyway?" Blueberry glanced over to Wisteria and she got out an old book full of different photos. She smiled as she opened it and flicked through the pages.

"It's coming together nicely! But I haven't had much photo's though… but hey here's one with Featherstone and Miranda! Gosh I wonder what happened to that pair, the couple who lived in that house moved, I hope they both went with them," Wisteria said a bit distantly as she remembered the old friends she had over two years ago. It was a shame she never saw them again after Redbrick and Blueberry's separation. Speaking of which…

"Wisteria what is this?" Blueberry asked pointing to a picture on the same page as the two flamingos. Wisteria glanced at the picture and suddenly went tense, she glanced at Blueberry's face and her expression said it all. She was not impressed by this picture! And the reason why she wasn't happy was because it was a picture of her and Redbrick while they were meeting secretly behind their parents backs. Wisteria, Miranda and Featherstone were also in the picture. While Wisteria held her fingers in a peace manner, Featherstone and Miranda were smiling next to each other behind the gnomes while Blueberry and Redbrick had their arms wrapped around one another and were smiling happily. Blueberry had no idea Wisteria had this picture, until now anyways.

"Oh," Wisteria began "that's kinda when you and Redbrick were going out. I thought it was a good memory back then despite the events after when this picture was taken. So I wanted to put it in my book, but I never knew you would take it that seriously," Wisteria said this very weakly as Blueberry glared at her.

"Do you know what would happen if Gnorman saw this? He would ask questions and ask about him! And I hate him! Why on Earth do you have a picture of this gnome in there?" Blueberry asked with hint of hurt and anger in her voice. It was clear she was upset about this, but Wisteria was going to answer her question honestly even if it killed her.

"Because despite what happened that day with my hat and everything, I knew that this was one of the best memories I ever had! This is not your book Blueberry and I decide what goes in it. And you say you hate him? You may say that aloud as if you don't care but I know deep down you don't hate him and you secretly care. But this feud is spiralling out of control and everyone including you and Redbrick are in denial. When is it going to stop Blueberry?" Blueberry would have replied to this but was cut short when a sudden scream came from outside. Blueberry rushed out the door but turned around and spoke to Wisteria one last time.

"We'll talk about this later." And with that, she was gone.

Outside in the meantime the sound of laughter could be heard when the blues noticed a bunch of red gnomes sling shooting a bunch of plant pots in their garden. And with them, of course it was Pansy. Blueberry was the first to head over to the gnomes still chucking snails and other unfortunate creatures at their plant pots, the majority of the gnomes ran away like the true cowards they were when they saw the blue gardens leader approach them from the other side of the fence. But one gnome remained the same one who had caused so much pain and misery to the blues. Pansy…

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the little blue leader herself. How've you been keeping recently Blueberry? Haven't heard from you since your pregnancy. Oh and speaking of which," Pansy cut herself off when she noticed Blueberry walking towards her carrying her baby in her arms. Pansy smirked as she looked down at little Gnomeo with a curious glance. Blueberry kept her cautions high; she didn't want anything to happen to Gnomeo around her.

"Hello Pansy, just as crude as ever I see," Blueberry snarled causing Pansy to turn her attention to the wary blue leader. Pansy put her hand on her hip teasingly and decided to humour the other gnome.

"Well of course. I find life boring without my insults. But I must say, your child is very cute! Well, for a blue gnome that is. I just wish he were as cute as my little Tybalt."

Blueberry glanced behind Pansy to an approaching gnome. "Speaking of whom." Pansy turned around to where Blueberry was looking and noticed her son approaching her again.

"Tybalt, I thought I told you to go play on the pedestal," Pansy groaned impatiently as she was being approached by her shy son.

"Well, it was boring up there, and uncle Redbrick and aunt June won't play with me so I was wondering if you could," Tybalt replied smiling nervously. On the other side of the fence Blueberry smiled a little, the child wasn't that bad, well, not yet anyway. But of course soon Pansy and Boris would teach him their tricks and he would soon no longer be the sweet and innocent child he was currently. And that saddened Blueberry, she also noticed several cuts and bruises on Tybalt's face and arms, he was obviously being abused by his careless parents. And this made Blueberry feel even sorrier for him.

"I am busy Tybalt, go find your father!" Pansy turned back around about to say something to Blueberry but was cut off by her son yet again, much to her annoyance.

"No, he doesn't want to play either. And you can't be that busy! We can include her and that little gnome in the game too!" Pansy suddenly clenched her fist holding back her anger. Blueberry gasped out in shock. That kid actually thought they were friends? Pansy obviously wasn't teaching him well yet.

"Tybalt, go pester the little gnomes for a bit. I shall speak with you later!" Pansy insisted and little Tybalt stood where he was for several moments. He didn't want to go through the same pain he went through earlier by being smacked across the face. So he decided to do as he was told and go find something else to do.

"Alright mummy!" Tybalt then walked off in a bored manner and sighed, he obviously wasn't going to find anyone or anything to play with.

Pansy soon turned back to Blueberry and smiled whilst clenching her teeth "Lovely isn't he?"

"Yes, but I dread to think what you'll turn him into," Blueberry muttered causing Pansy to chuckle.

"What ever gives you that idea Lady Blueberry?" Pansy asked innocently and Blueberry shook her head in annoyance.

"Because you're a pest!" Blueberry snapped. Pansy just stood there and took Blueberry's rant about how annoying and careless she was, she had taken the same lectures off her brother and his stupid wife! Now she was having it again from the leader in the next door garden. Pansy ignored all that she had said and changed the subject almost instantly.

"Well, yeah what ever. Oh and tell your husband that our lawnmower race is still on tomorrow afternoon. And tell him he is going down!" and with that Pansy stormed off. Blueberry sighed; she couldn't wait for Pansy to get beaten tomorrow yet again.

…

Meanwhile in the red garden June was watering her tulips and gazing up at the sky day dreamingly. She put her hand on her stomach and glanced down at it again, she had gone through the morning sickness and all that but now she was fine. But that still didn't stop her husband from fretting about her non stop. He was annoying her a little because he kept calling her 'fragile' and 'delicate' when she knew she wasn't. He never fretted this much over Pansy when she was pregnant with little Tybalt, but yet again he barely spoke to her anyway. In fact they never spoke unless under bad conditions because they hated each other and it was obvious to every gnome in the entire garden that they wanted nothing to do with each other.

"June how are you now? Feeling sick? Dizzy? Do you need a lie down? A drink of water perhaps?" June turned around to find Redbrick rushing up to her babbling again in his concerned manner. June sighed and thought 'speak of the devil'.

"Redbrick I am fine, now can you stop worrying? You're making me nervous just watching you!" June exclaimed putting down her red watering can and crossing her arms at her husband.

"Oh, sorry I am just still getting over the fact you're having a baby," Redbrick smiled putting his arm around June lovingly. She shook her head and placed her hand on his.

"We're having a baby. You're the father after all!" June replied smirking.

"Uh, yes of course. I'm the father," Redbrick muttered aimlessly to himself and June rolled her eyes and kissed him on the cheek.

"Yes silly! Do you really think I'd be that pathetic to have an affair behind my husbands back?" Redbrick shook his head and she continued "exactly. Now stop worrying about me Redbrick, or else you'll have a heart attack even before this child is born!" June then felt a small pain from within her stomach and gasped a little. Redbrick noticed this and immediately released from a hug into a support so June wouldn't fall over.

"Come on now, let's get you to sit down somewhere," Redbrick guided her to the nearest rock and he put her down and sat beside her. He put his arm around her comfortingly as June got her vision back.

"This is going to be a regular thing Redbrick, I don't want you worrying about me this much every time I have a dizzy or sickness spell. I will get used to it soon enough!" June reassured.

"Yes, but I have to now. I am your husband and a father to be, I have to be protective over those I love," Redbrick explained causing June to roll her eyes.

"I can see you being a really good father to this child," June said smiling back down at her stomach. Redbrick put his hand over it and June looked up at him smirking "You won't feel anything yet you know."

"I know that," Redbrick replied before asking "what do you think it is? A boy? Or a girl?"

"Hopefully, a girl. Then I can use that name I have always loved," June explained receiving a confused look from Redbrick.

"And what's that?" Redbrick smiled.

"Juliet," June replied. "I have always loved that name! I don't know why, but it's just the name I have always loved above other gnome names. What do you think though?"

"Me?" Redbrick asked receiving a nod from June "I love it."

"Great. I am glad you do," June grinned before changing the conversation to a more serious matter "Redbrick? Can I ask you a serious yet silly question?"

"Of course my love, anything."

"Well I know we haven't exactly been on agreeing terms recently and I would like to be reassured that we won't argue as often or as frequent as we have for the sake of our future child," June explained receiving several nods of agreement from Redbrick.

"But of course, our child will need both a mother and father figure to relay upon."

"You mean rely right?"

"Yes, of course reply!"

"Oh Redbrick!" June laughed receiving a small embarrassed blush from her husband.

"What?" Redbrick asked.

"Just keep that up dear and everything will be fine," June reassured humorously as she stood up. "Now I think I feel well enough to continue with my activities. I'm not completely helpless you know!"

"Yes, but you are still delic-" Redbrick began but was cut off by his wife.

"Don't say it Redbrick, I am not delicate. Now I shall call you if I need you. Goodbye," and with that June walked off to go back to watering her plants. Redbrick stood there and sighed whilst thinking 'you'll always be delicate to me'.

…

"Gnorman, could you have Gnomeo for a bit? I would like to go trim our plants a little," Blueberry asked as she approached her husband who was relaxing reading some small newspaper article Miss Montague had left out.

"Of course dear just leave him next to the plant pot and I'll change him in a minute," Gnorman replied not even glancing at her. Blueberry rolled her eyes and approached her husband curiously still holding little Gnomeo in her arms. He was still sleeping soundly in her arms with that small cute smile attached to his tiny face.

"What are you even reading?" Blueberry asked trying to grab the piece of paper from her husband. But he pulled it away from her grasp and glanced up at her casually.

"Some human article about some weed killer fraud. It's lucky Miss Montague uses Miracle grow because this stuff sounds ghastly!" Gnorman replied.

"Why what does it do that makes it so ghastly?" Blueberry said with a large hint of curiosity in her voice.

"Well apparently it causes very large burning holes on the grass and destroys plants causing them to spontaneously combust!" Gnorman exclaimed.

"You mean set on fire without any meaning?" Blueberry gasped a little.

"Yes. Some poor sod had his entire garden in flames because of this so called weed killer! No wonder he's taking the company who made this monstrosity to court." Blueberry chuckled a little before snatching the news paper article out of his hands unexpectedly and replacing it with their small child.

"You really do need to stop following the human's lives and troubles and focus on your own. Now this little guy needs changing! And daddy here will have to do it because mommy here is busy doing work," Blueberry mimicked a child's voice as she replied pointing at Gnomeo who was now in Gnorman's arms.

"Alright, alright I'll do it…" Gnorman replied as his voice trailed off to another subject again "I wonder if we could get our hands on that stuff and set the red garden on fire…"

"No! Gnorman don't think of such absurd ideas! You're beginning to think like Pansy. Oh and speaking of whom, she told me to tell you that the race is still on tomorrow afternoon and that she will beat you, but I doubt that very much," Blueberry reassured smiling proudly.

"Ha, well I can't wait to see her face tomorrow when I zoom past that finishing line before she even has the chance to blink!" Gnorman stood up proudly holding Gnomeo with one hand whilst holding the other up in the air.

"Ok Mr super speed, I think little Gnomeo here would like a change," Blueberry reminded walking over to Gnorman pointing at Gnomeo.

"And I think beautiful Blueberry here would like a kiss," Gnorman grinned leaning inward to give his wife a kiss. But before they both had the chance, little Gnomeo had woken up and started to cry. He obviously wasn't happy about his parents kissing or the fact he stank of wee because he hadn't been changed.

"Alright you little rascal I'll change you now!" Gnorman sighed moving away from Blueberry to hold his small son in the air. He then turned to his wife again and smirked "we'll make up for that later."

"I am sure we will, but right now I think someone else needs a make up," Blueberry chuckled as she continued to walk away to do her jobs leaving Gnorman with his son Gnomeo.

"Oh what a woman and a heck of a mother eh Gnomeo?" Gnorman glanced away from his wife and back at his son again whose cries began to get louder again. "Oh alright stinker, let's get you changed and done."

It was obvious right now that Gnorman and Blueberry were firm yet considerate parents with their humour still mixed in with their seriousness. But how would June and Redbrick cope with their new arrival as they learned the ways of parenthood? Would it be as easy as it was for Blueberry and Gnorman? Or would there be more concerns and worries on their road to parenthood? Only after the baby was born could this be decided, and that would soon come around quicker than anyone would know…

Authors note: Well here was this chapter. How do you like it? I should update soon! Please review! Thanks!