Title: Baby Wars

Time: April 2025

POV: Shane

Claire and I had always said we wanted two kids. Two was the perfect number for us. It meant that everyone had their own bedroom, there was always room in the car, family deals at the fairground fit our family perfectly, even family food packaging made everything in a set of four. We were perfect as we are.

"Dad! Look at me, I've never got this far before," Carrie called to me and I looked up to see my 10 year old on the highest point of the climbing frame. She was, she really had never got that high up before. I swelled with pride after watching my daughter do something new. Both of my girls were changing with each day. I mean, it seems like yesterday that we brought Ellie home from the hospital and now she's a year and a half old. Ellie's running around and talking more with every day.

Ellie was definitly a lot like me. She was brave, and stubborn, which are both attributes of Claire and myself. But Ellie was also protective of her family and had a short temper when someone upset her. It shocks me how she's her own person. Carrie had been shy and gentle but Ellie is not like that at all. If someone pushed Carrie over on the playground, she's start crying to me or Claire but Ellie pushes them back and carrys on with whatever she was doing.

"Dada!" Ellie called, standing by the swings. The park was quiet today, only a few other kids out which is how we liked it. I helped Carrie get down after she decided she was stuck and Ellie started calling me over again.

"Hang on Ell," I'm coming, I shouted over to her as I lifted Carrie onto the floor.

"DADA!" She screamed and I looked over to see her guarding her swing defensively. A child that looked to be a few years older than Ellie was shaking the swing and my poor child was hanging on to it for dear life. I can't help but laugh again at how much my daughter is like me, Carrie would have backed off and let the other kid have it but Ellie refuses to let go.

By the time I reach the two kids, they're starting to fight over the swing. I felt a wave of protective anger over my daughter, the other kid wasn't even in the park when Ellie got the swing. Besides, they've got to be at least two years older than her, if not more. They should know better. The other kid is pushing Ellie and I can't help but feel a little proud when she turns round and pushes the kids onto the floor, she's strong for her age.

"Hey!" I hear a familiar voice scream at me, "Control your brats," Monica Morrell. I hadn't seen her besides awkward eye contact in the street. I heard that she married some rich business man and they were 'happy'. Her shrill voice hadn't changed, even after all this time. I almost felt sorry for her daughter. Almost.

"They're names are Ellie and Carrie," I tell her sharply, picking Ellie up and swinging her into my arms, "And they're not brats,"

She comes up to my face, "Care to explain why your brat just pushed my child over?"

"Simple. Ellie had the swing first," I say angrily, and Carrie comes over, hugging my leg.

"Doesn't you kid know how to share?" She screams, gesturing wildly right at Ellie who turns me looking shocked and starts crying.

"Ellie shares good," Carrie says, and I don't bother to correct her grammar, "And she's older than Ellie and she was pushing her too," My heart swells with pride as Carrie defends her little sister, just like I would have done to Alyssa when we were younger.

Monica doesn't reply, she just grabs her kids hand, pulling her surprisingly hard, "Come on Reece, we'll go to the one on the other side of town. I don't want you being near these people anyway," I put my hand out and Carrie high fives me. I put Ellie into the swing and start pushing her. I can't wait to get home to tell Claire.

In the end, I decide that both my daughters are like me. Carrie loves deeply and fiercely, while Ellie has my stubbornness and my temper. I don't get the chance to tell Claire what happened before Carrie blurts it out proudly. Claire shares a sly smile with me telling me that's she also proud of Carrie. As soon as Carrie and Ellie both get started on their dinner, Claire puts a hand on my arm.

"I need to talk to you," She says, before pulling me into the living room, closing the door behind her so the kids don't hear, "I know we said that we were going to stick with two but..."

"About that," I start, "A third would be nice, if you want one that is,"

"I'm pregnant,"