[rp for dc_knight]

[on_jennys_terms]

It's after dinner and Jenny is back in bed, but she's not buried under a mound of blankets and she's actually awake, sitting up.  She's got Alex's baby name book on the bed in front of her, her legs folded, and she flips though the pages slowly.  Alex is elsewhere in the house, possibly going over stuff for the pool he wants to have put in.  Jen

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[dc_knight]

Heather almost lets the phone call go to voice mail. She's curled up with Leroy and he's reading aloud from some hopelessly romantic classic civil war story, but when she sees it's Jenny they both silently agree it's best that she answer. He kisses her hand and gets up, leaving her curled up on the couch with the blankets. He disappears up the stairs, presumably to check on the boys and she's never been so grateful for him. It's little moments like this that have always separated him from Charles. She quickly grabs her phone and answers it. "Hi, Sis."

[on_jennys_terms]

"Hi," she says as she leans back so she can straighten out her legs. She didn't realize she'd had her legs tucked up for as long as she had until her knees started screaming. "How are you?"

[dc_knight]

"Good, actually." She tucks the blanket around her feet better. "What about you?"

[on_jennys_terms]

"All things considered, not too bad, I guess," she says.

[dc_knight]

Heather decides to take her at her word. Jenny actually initiated the call. That says something. "So what's up?"

[on_jennys_terms]

She hesitates a moment. "I just wanted to talk with you," she admits. It feels weird to say that.

[dc_knight]

Heather can't help but smile. "Well. Okay. Good." She takes a sip of her tea. "What's running through that head of yours?"

[on_jennys_terms]

Jen can hear the smile in Heather's voice and she smiles slightly in return. "Well, I don't know. My shrink said we should start making a list of names and I'm sitting here with a book. I'm trying to be proactive about it while the mood lasts, but honestly, I most of them.

[dc_knight]

"Well, yes. Enjoy the mood." Heather pauses. "Are there any names at all that interest you?"

[on_jennys_terms]

"Alex has rattled off at least a dozen already, but they're like all the rest." She pauses. "Is it still a list if there are only two names on it?" She hasn't actually answered the question yet, but she's getting there.

[dc_knight]

"I am of the firm belief that until the kid is born, there's always at least two names on the list. Daniel was going to be Brian. Up to the minute he was born. And then ... Daniel. I think they name themselves, honestly."

[on_jennys_terms]

"Well, right now, it's Maks and Charlie. For a girl." Another pause. "Or a boy, I guess," she says, covering her ass a bit.

[dc_knight]

Heather catches it and files it in the "How is Jen really doing" file in her brain. But, she lets it slide. "Interesting choices. I think I like them."

[on_jennys_terms]

"Maks is Alex's suggestion and his current favorite, too," she says, putting the book in her lap.

[dc_knight]

Heather's been around Leroy enough to know that Maks is probably Russian. "You like Charlie?" She decides to focus on Jenny's choice.

[on_jennys_terms]

There's a subtle distinction in what Heather asks, "Well, I like Maks, too, but yes; it was my suggestion," she says.