Note: We have...one more chapter after this...and then "Spring Essence" is complete (with the exception of bonus chapters). It's bittersweet, but all good things must come to an end!

-end note-

Summer 3

So much had changed since Clara was born. My brother and Julia had gotten married in the spring, and so did Jake and Cecilia, along with Ray and Yue! Ray and Yue were expecting twin girls, and Jake and Cecilia were expecting a baby as well! Alicia predicted their baby to be a boy, in which Jack became very overprotective of Clara upon hearing that. Roy, however, was elated to finally have a classmate who would be a boy!

Barrett and Dorothy's little girl was due soon too! I knew that she and Clara were going to be the best of friends!

Clara had also changed in the course of a season! Though she still woke up in the middle of the night to be held, she wasn't as bad compared to when she was a newborn. She was learning to roll on her own (though she would become frustrated when her arm got in the way), and she loved seeing her reflection in the mirror.

I smiled, looking over my shoulder while cleaning the dishes from today's lunch at Jack, who was seated on the floor, supporting Clara in a seated position on his lap. She was squealing in delight, her hands in her mouth, looking at her reflection in the full-length mirror.

I rinsed the last plate, setting it in the draining rack before walking towards my family. Her head turned towards me with the biggest gummy smile on her face. She loved the sound of my heels clicking as well.

"Do you see the baby, Clara? Isn't she beautiful?" I asked as she gave an adorable coo, looking back at her reflection.

The pounding from the door of the farmhouse caused Clara to jump and cry from being startled so suddenly. She reached over for me as I picked her up, trying to calm her down. Jack sighed loudly in irritation, standing up from his spot to open the front door to Barrett's smiling face.

"Barrett, I really hate being a jerk, but you scared the baby while I was holding her! And that made her want her mother. I hardly ever get to hold her!" Jack scolded as I saw Barrett's smile become slightly nervous.

"Eh, sorry, Jack. But you know, speaking of baby..." He said, his smile growing bigger. I gasped in delight.

"Oh! Is she in labor now?" I asked as Barrett became nervous.

"Ah, no, she actually had it about half an hour ago. She gave birth about eleven minutes after arriving at the clinic, so there wasn't any time to get you nor Julia. It happened so quickly." I squealed in delight as Clara began blinking at Barrett.

"Alright, that is lucky, Barrett! Eleven minutes versus almost twelve hours?" Jack asked in shock as I glared at him. Barrett became slightly nervous.

"Ah, well, I think she was in denial until we got to the clinic." Barrett said. I rolled my eyes; there were more important things to worry about now.

"How is Dorothy? Cadence?"

"Ah, y-yeah, about that…" Barrett began nervously as Jack and I held a look of worry.

"Oh, what happened, Barrett?" Jack asked, concerned.

"Ah, no, Dorothy and the baby are fine! It's just that...we really can't name him Cadence." Barrett said with such enthusiasm as I beamed in delight.

"Oh! It's a boy?!" I exclaimed as Clara began to make noises from her mouth.

"Do you want to meet your new friend, Clara?" I asked softly.

"Ah, no. No, no, no, no, no!" Jack began, taking Clara from my arms, holding her in a protective manner. Clara's face held the most confused look ever from her father's protective embrace; it was almost comical!

"No boy will be friends with my little girl! It's bad enough Jake and Ceci's kid's going to be in her class too."

"Are you turning into Douglas?" I asked in a joking manner as Jack became flustered.

"N-no...but boys are evil!" Jack said, holding onto Clara tighter as I gave him a sly look.

So, you're evil?" I asked as Jack gave a flustered stance.

"Gah! No! Why would you ask that?"

"Hm…you're a boy." I stated, matter-of-factly.

"I am a man!" Jack exclaimed, "And Clara's father too, so I don't count."

I rolled my eyes, taking Clara from her father's arms.

"Well, let's ask Clara what she wants to do!" I looked into my little daughter's face.

"Clara? Would you like to meet your new friend?" I asked her as she gave the biggest smile, kicking her legs in delight and blowing spit bubbles.

"That settles it! She wants to see the baby! Lead the way, Barrett!"

"Ack! B-but she didn't even say anything!" Jack exclaimed in horror.

"A mother learns what her baby wants and is thinking!" Barrett shook his head in disbelief.

"Sheesh, he's a baby, Jack! It's not like he can make Clara pregnant yet." Barrett said while rolling his eyes.

"Right. Yet." Jack said, giving Barrett a death glare as Barrett blinked at Jack in disbelief before leading us to the clinic.

Clara had fallen asleep on our way to the clinic as Barrett led us into Dorothy's room. My eyes widened and danced at Dorothy holding a bundle; she looked up at me, Jack, and Barrett in acknowledgment with a smile on her face.

"H-hello, Rosalind. Jack. Clara." She said quietly. The sounds of a baby cooing could be heard from the bundle as Dorothy made shushing noises from her lips.

"This…" Dorothy began proudly, "Is our son!" She started to unwrap the baby slightly to show his face.

"Oh! He is a big baby! How did you do it, Dorothy?" I asked, causing Dorothy to blush.

"With d-difficulty." She replied.

"So, what's his name?" I asked with an eager voice as Dorothy gave me a smile.

"We'll tell you as soon as Barrett retrieves Julia and Max."

"Yeah, I'll do that in a moment. I just wanna look at his little face for a moment longer." Barrett said with such love as I looked over at Jack. He was looking at the new baby with such confusion.

"Jack? What's wrong?" I asked as Jack blinked at the baby.

"Uh, that is the prettiest boy I've ever se-...Are you sure that's a boy?" Jack asked in shock as I glared at him.

"Jack!" I snapped, "What is wrong with you?"

"I think we're being pranked, Rosalind." Jack said the baby started crying.

"See? You hurt his feelings!" I exclaimed as Jack's eyes widened.

"H-how did I do that? I'm not the one calling this poor little girl a boy!" Jack exclaimed. The baby's fussing became louder.

"I-I think he needs to be changed." Dorothy said softly as Barrett took the baby from her arms.

"I'll change him." Barrett said as my eyes widened.

"Wow, Jack won't even change Clara!" I exclaimed in shock.

"He won't? What kind of parent are you, Jack?" Barrett asked as Jack became flustered.

"I-I'll do anything except change her diaper!" Jack exclaimed as I rolled my eyes.

"He's afraid he'll wipe her too hard." I said matter-of-factly as the baby's cries became more demanding.

"Ah, sorry, sorry. I'm sure that's uncomfortable for you!" Barrett said, trying to appease his son, bringing him to the changing table.

"Yeah, I gotta see this for myself." Jack said, walking towards Barrett. I shook my head, turning my attention towards Dorothy.

"I know it's too soon, but how are you liking motherhood so far?" I asked Dorothy.

"I love it. I know it's going to be challenging, but my little boy means everything to me." Dorothy said as I giggled.

"I know exactly what you mean." I replied. Looking at the back of my sleeping baby girl's head that was resting on my shoulder.

"Has your father and Cammy met him? Byron?"

"They were the first ones to m-meet him, though...I don't think Cammy was too thrilled to have a nephew."

"I'm sure he'll grow on her." I said with a giggle.

"What the hell? How did you, of all people, make such a sissy-looking son, Barrett?" Jack asked loudly in horror.

"I swear to god, Jack! I will squawk at you like Max did to me! A-and I'm sure he'll grow out of it!" Barrett exclaimed as I rolled my eyes.

"I still wanna know the whole story behind that." Jack said, causing Barrett to groan.

Clara was seated in the bed with me supporting her as she looked at Dorothy's son in wonder. The baby had fallen asleep in his mother's arms while Barrett had gone to fetch Max and Julia for them to meet the baby as well. Clara reached out her hand to touch the baby as Jack started to panic. He grabbed Clara's hand.

"Ack! Let's not touch this...boy, Clara." Jack said as I rolled my eyes.

"Jack." I began sternly. "Clara and Dorothy's son are not going going to catch feelings by touching."

"You don't know that, Rosalind! He could develop a crush on her as soon as he wakes up and sees her!" I shook my head at my husband.

"R-Rosalind's right, you know? It-it's the teenage stage you should be more worried about." Dorothy said while snickering as Jack placed his hand over where his heart was.

"Dorothy, please don't do that to me. I'd like to see Clara at least graduate from the academy." The curtains drew back as Barrett walked in with Max and Julia. Julia's eyes sparkled at the sight of the baby.

"Oh! How cute!" Julia exclaimed in awe as Clara started kicking her legs upon seeing Julia.

"Oh, yes! You're cute too, Clara!" Julia exclaimed, taking Clara from the bed.

"Did you miss me and Max?" She asked as Clara gave her a big gummy smile, kicking her legs faster.

"Oh, wow...Yep, Barrett. That is a punishment for how you treated Hugo all those years ago." Max stated as Barrett glared at my brother.

"I-I do feel bad about it! And I-I'm sure he'll grow out of it!" Barrett exclaimed.

"You know? That was the reason why I squawked at Barrett!" Max exclaimed, chuckling slightly.

"You squawked at Barrett because he was a jerk to Hugo?" Jack asked.

"Well, yes, but there's more to the story. Sit down, and I'll begin the tale of Barrett's son's curse." Max stated as Barrett grumbled. Jack took a seat as Max cleared his throat.

"So, Hugo and I have been friends since we were young, but Barrett and I became friends after they moved to Alvarna! However, Barrett was always so malicious to Hugo because of how he is! Well, the year Hugo was moving, I decided that enough was enough! Before Barrett could say anything to Hugo, I asserted dominance by squawking at him."

"More like you scared the hell out of me before I could even have any more thoughts that day." Barrett grumbled.

"But see? That's karma, Barrett!" Max exclaimed before he started snickering.

"You know, Jack? You should also hear the mushroom story too!" Max exclaimed as Barrett's face went white.

"Max, you shut the hell up! Right now!" Barrett exclaimed in embarrassment.

"Mushroom story?" I asked, looking over at Julia and Dorothy, who both shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders.

"Rosalind doesn't know that story, so I can't ask her later. I'm gonna have to ask you about it now, Max." Jack said as Max started to snort laugh.

"Okay!" Max began as Barrett groaned loudly, covering his face in embarrassment with this bandana.

"So, it was the year Byron and Barrett moved to Alvarna, and I believe it was summer when this happened, and autumn was just around the corner! But it was still a super hot day. So, I invited Barrett and Hugo to cool down. Of course, we all know that Barrett was a tough guy, and he suggested we cool down at Messhina Valley. I'm pretty sure Barrett skipped breakfast and lunch that day because his stomach was growling!" Max stopped the story to snort-laugh; whatever happened next must have been funny.

"But instead of Barrett saying, 'Hey, I haven't eaten today; maybe we should go to the mansion and have Tabatha make us some lunch. Barrett grabbed some nearby mushrooms in embarrassment from his stomach's loud rumbling and ate them."

"Oh! Barrett! You-you shouldn't have done that!" Dorothy exclaimed in a scolding manner.

"The thing is, Dorothy, those mushrooms weren't poisonous. When Barrett's pupils dilated, Hugo and I knew that was the end of Barrett for several hours." Max began howling with laughter.

"Barrett was high as a kite! I will never forget Barrett's face of awe over how soft my shirt was! How was that possible? Hello, grass! Oh my god! It's so soft! And then Barrett proceeded to rub his face in the grass. He did several other things too, like talk to a non-existent purple kangaroo about how beautiful Dorothy was and that she was way out of his league because of him being blind in one eye." Dorothy snorted as Max joined her laughter.

"H-how was I supposed to know about the mushrooms?!" Barrett exclaimed; Max's laughter became louder as his face turned red from his lack of oxygen.

"He-he denied having a crush on Dorothy after that! But look at you now, Barrett! Oh, I can't wait to tell your son this story when he's old enough."

"You won't say a word to him, Maximilian Weber-Kross de Sainte-Coquille!"

"Aw, you remembered my name after all these years! See, Barrett Otto? You still care!" Barrett grumbled under his breath as Jack leaned in to whisper to my brother.

"Can you tell Clara that story too when she's old enough?"

"You bet."

"No! No one else will know of that story!" Barrett scolded as Dorothy cleared her throat.

"And speaking of n-names! I think we need to announce his name!" Dorothy exclaimed as Barrett's cheeks reddened.

"Right. Right." Barrett said, walking next to Dorothy. The baby's big blue eyes stared at his father in wonder.

"Everyone, this is Leonel Prescott." Barrett announced proudly as we all cheered.

"Giving him a masculine name doesn't change the fact that-..."

"Shut the hell up, Max!"

"Thanks for coming over." Julia said with a bright smile on her face, holding Clara in her arms.

"Of course! We haven't visited in a while, and Clara seems to have missed you!" I exclaimed while Clara played with the chain of Julia's necklace.

"Actually, there was a reason Julia wanted to invite you three over." Max said with a big smile on his face. I gasped in delight, looking over at Julia.

"You're not!" I exclaimed as Julia squealed, causing Clara to look at her in confusion.

"I am!" She exclaimed back as we embraced.

"I'm about as confused as Clara is right now." Jack admitted as Max snorted a laugh.

"Let's put it this way, Jack. Clara's going to have a little cousin!" Max exclaimed as Jack's smile beamed.

"Really?" He asked excitedly. "Congratulations! But...why didn't you tell us at the clinic?"

"Well, Dorothy and Barrett were so focused on Leonel we didn't want to draw the attention on us after something so great happened to them! We'll tell them another time, though!" Julia explained.

"That's respectful. Do you know what it is?" I asked as Julia shook her head.

"No, not yet. And I'm gonna apologize to Jack ahead of time if the baby is a boy." Julia said as Jack shrugged.

"I'll actually be okay if your baby is a boy. After all, Clara and your baby will be family. Blood-related. I won't have to worry too much about those two being interested in each other romantically." Jack explained as Julia shrugged.

"Yeah, you got a point." She said as I started to become giddy again.

The future really was looking amazing!