Nocheat: Galacticon's Family Reunion (Part 2)
I totally forgot I had a Galacticon icon. Ahh, the loverboy in his prime. . .
Part two picks up pretty much where part one left off. Galacticon is still trying to get all his children together for a party (again, we'll move between a few houses but it shouldn't be too confusing).
Shanghai was very excited to hear how well Mosaic and her family had accepted Galacticon.
Now all Galacticon had to do was find a date that was acceptable for everyone.
This would prove a daunting task.
"Experience! How's things, little sis. . ."
". . .oh, yeah, I understand how that is. But babies are easy. Wait until she's a child and begging you for a puppy. Yeah, I caved. He's cute. But I think he's going to be big. You can't really tell when they're puppies. Oh, definitely. What did you need me to do?"
Freedom was happy to help his youngest sister. Having a powerful sister could only mean big things for Freedom.
But for now it meant giving up his leisurely days at home to attend to a few things Experience's husband, Carmine, wasn't able to handle while caring for their baby daughter.
It also meant Mosaic would have to re-organize her schedule to be home when Wood Spirit returned from school. She explained her predicament to Galacticon and he assured her he was able to push the party date back. It wasn't like she was the only one with scheduling difficulties.
"Gross, Seymour. Put some clothes on you nasty slug."
Shotgun was in a bad mood. She really wanted to go to her father's party but there was just one problem.
Her mother.
Edna was no fan of Galacticon Farquest and didn't mind telling anyone who would listen.
But Shotgun just might have a way around her.
"Daddy, uh, I really want to go to a party but. . .well, could you get mom to say yes?"
"No way, man. I know all about your bio pop trying to have some kind of weird reunion. I'm not disturbing the peace on this one. Your mom'll never let me hear the end of it."
"Hear the end of what?"
"Mom, you HAVE to say yes. This is THE biggest deal for me. I'll get to meet all my brothers and sisters. I know you hate him but. . .please, mom."
Edna had already made up her mind but enjoyed stringing her daughter along.
"Hmm."
Shotgun knew her mother was about to say yes but there would be a stipulation. Extra chores? No going out for the rest of the month? She was ready to accept the deal no matter what.
"You can go BUT it can't conflict with your sister's transition. You can't go if there is any alcohol being served and you have to be home before dark."
"Deal." Shotgun resented having to schedule around her little sister but didn't say as much.
It wasn't that she disliked her sister, she just envied all the attention lavished on her by the rest of the family.
Even Seymour, the slug, was all about her. Selma made her feel like an outsider. But at the party, she'd really be one of the family.
Shotgun wasn't the only one excited about getting in touch with her family. Wood Spirit Woodstock was still enthralled by his newfound grandfather.
"I met my grandpa. Not Crunchy, the ghost one, either. A real live grandpa. And he's alien, just like you German."
"He came here from a whole n'other planet."
"Does he still drive his space ship, like a car? My dad went in a space ship once."
"Well my grandpa flew his space ship all over the place, to all kinds of planets. He even drew a map on his HEAD to show how to get to them all. He showed it to me."
"Well my DAD has magic powers. And I do to."
Wood Spirit was doubtful of German's claim, but kept it to himself.
Maybe it was because he made such outlandish claims that Wood Spirit considered German his best friend.
Galacticon had everything just about planned. He had time to go over the list again and again, what with having to set the date so far out to accomodate Shotgun's familial obligations. It was going to work out well, though. It would allow Mosaic to celebrate Wood Spirit's transition as well.
At Shanghai's request, Galacticon had been keeping the planning a secret from the twins. She thought it would be a fun surprise. Galacticon resented the extra work.
Keeping things from Pillage was next to impossible.
That boy was curious to the point of being nosey. He'd nagged Galacticon until he had no choice but to show him the home planet and every other planet on his map. Thankfully the telescope kept him busy.
Though lately he seemed caught up in some new project, the details of which Galacticon was happy not to be privy to.
While Galacticon wasn't in on the secret, Plunder was.
"Shh, top secret. I'll find out more later and let you know."
Unfortunately for Galacticon, the secret his boys were sharing wasn't going to stay a secret for long.
---------------------------------------Brief Interlude-------------------------------
--------------------------------A Day in the Life of Sputnik, a dog.-----------------------------
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Bye-bye mom. Bye-bye dad. Bye-bye Woody. Bye-byebyebyebye.
Find it. Get it. Goodsmell. Wantit? Eat. Goodsmell. Eat. More?
Who? New? Hi.
Peeoutside. Goodboy.
Sleepy.
WOODY! Woodywoodywoody. Smell it? Goodsmell. Get it. Stinky. Eat? Goodboy?
Yelling? Mom!?
Mommymommymommymommymommymommymommy.
Goodboy?Goodboy?Goodboy?
------------------------------------------------------End of Interlude------------------------------------------------
The party was only a few days away. Galacticon was busy making sure everyone would be attending.
"Definitely. Eleven, right? I'll be there. Yes, he did. I'll tell him." Mosaic hung up the phone. "Woody, grandpa says happy transition."
"Congratulations, Selma."
"Shotgun, Galacticon called earlier. I confirmed you'd be there Saturday at 11. Remember, home by 4."
The morning of the party, a new and much more complicated snag reared its head.
Galacticon had hoped it was just his imagination but it was obvious now to anyone who saw that it was not a hallucination.
Galacitcon was not amused.
"Shanghai, my dear. Is there, uh, something you'd like to tell me?"
"You mean about the baby?"
Galacticon gritted his teeth.
"Oh, the baby?" He mocked.
"Don't be angry, Galacticon. I wasn't trying to keep it a secret."
Galacticon felt his eye twitch. Don't be angry? Don't be angry? Was she trying to drive him to an early grave? He already had seven children. The last thing he needed was another one. Or two? Oh, please don't let it be twins. Anything but that. What about the party? He wasn't about to cancel it now. If she went into labor in front of them all, well that was just her problem.
"Don't be such a grouch." Shanghai giggled, reaching to tickle him.
He tried to maintain his composure.
He hadn't even realized he was being played until he heard their combined laughter. That's when he knew what it was about Shanghai that he couldn't resist.
He'd finally met his match.
While Shanghai waddled off to the bathroom, Galacticon called the twins to breakfast.
"Daddy, something's been bugging me."
"Yes?"
"What does preg-nint mean?" It was a morning for surprises. Galacticon felt he was aging exponentially. "Pillage said mom was preg-nint. . ."
"Shut up, you rat. That was a SECRET. I told you I didn't know yet. You're such a blabber mouth."
"I am not. . ."
"I think you mean pregnant. . ." Galacticon gaged slightly at the word. He had a wealth of experience with woo-hoo but had never had to explain it before. The sound of the phone was music to his ears.
What NOW?
He could hear Plunder beginning to explain in his absence.
"Hey dad. I was just calling to let you know I'd be a little late. But I'm still coming."
The party! He had a lot to still get done and not much time left.
Everyone began arriving right on time.
Unfortunately, Shanghai and the twins weren't quite ready. Galacticon was too busy playing host to notice.
"So you're my SISTER?" Pillage was in his glory. All these perfect strangers willing to share so much information with him.
Everywhere he turned there was someone new to interrogate.
"Hey, Pillage, right?"
"Shotgun wants to meet you."
Pillage could barely keep them all straight.
And he'd never seen his dad like this before. He was so. . .not grouchy.
"Don't let the old man beat you, Romeo."
Everyone was getting along so well, meeting and greeting and having a great time.
"I'm Mosaic. You must be Shanghai. Oh, I see dad is still up to his old ways, huh?"
"OK!" Pillage got everyone's attention. "I don't know everyone's name, so everyone should take a turn and say who they are. I'll go first. I'm Pillage and this is my brother, Plunder. We're twins. And that's our mom, Shanghai. Maybe she'll have twins?"
Everyone laughed, with the exception of Galacticon.
"Ok, I'm next." Shotgun couldn't control her excitement. "I guess I'm the next youngest after Pillage and Plunder. I'm Shotgun Baena. I live with my mom and. . .dad. . .and my brother and sister and I go to public highschool. This is so cool. Ok, you're next."
"I'm Mosaic Woodstock. I'm married. My husband, Freedom, and I work for his sister. We have a son, Wood Spirit and a dog, Sputnik. I also have another daughter, Zola. She lives with her biological father. Next?"
"Me? Oh, I'm Dora Mae McCrackin. I'm in college right now. No, I don't know my major yet. Uh, I have an older sister and brother, I mean besides you guys." Dora turns to her right. "You can go any time. . ."
"I'm Farquest Galaxy Bendett. I'm, well, I'm a bum I guess. I just graduated college and I'm just hanging out. Unlike you over there, Romeo."
"Must be nice to laze around." Romeo and Farquest laugh. "Farquest isn't really a bum. He's the reason I met dad and really why we're all here now, I guess. We met in college and, well thanks to dad I'm engaged to my fiance, Shamus. I'm a police officer. Right now I work with the K-9 unit. I know Pillage is interested in the dogs, aren't you Pillage?"
Galacticon was pleased to see everyone getting along, eating and enjoying themselves.
But even the best parties have to come to an end.
Galacticon said goodbye to his children as they departed to their homes.
"You throw a great party, Galacticon." Galacticon just smiled. Damn, she was good.
All that was left was the cleaning up.
The family would be eating leftover turkey for quite some time.
Galacticon sent his sons and Shanghai to their beds, prefering to cleanup alone. He was still basking in the glow of his party throwing skills when he finally retired for the night.
His sleep would be interrupted early the next morning.
Shanghai was much more quiet about her delivery than he had been. Galacticon hadn't realized what was happening until he heard the baby cry. At first he thought it was a bad dream.
"Well, I suppose congratulations are in order." Galacticon wasn't about to let Shanghai win. Not without a fight. "This one is ALL yours, my dear. I'll be napping on the couch if you have any NON baby related needs."
Shanghai just smiled. She wasn't about to give in, either.
"Your daddy is such a grump, isn't he Galacticon junior?"