Thanksgiving III/Excited
Title/Prompt: Thanksgiving III/Excited
Author: mkrobinson
Rating: PG-13
Words: 3058
Table:http://babysitters100.livejournal.com/53582.html#cutid1
Summary: Sharon has a lot of little chats with the overprotective people in her life.
Warnings:
Notes: Thanks to ozqueen for betaing this!
Jeff
Me and my friends watched a football game at Mom and Richard's.
Apparently we were a little loud.
My stepsister had to do her homework at the library.
My mom kept glaring at us - I think she wanted us to leave, or something.
I don't know.
Stonybrook is too cold. It was even snowing out! I hate the snow.
It's cold and wet and miserable.
Stonybrook's okay, I guess.
It makes my Mom happy when Dawn and I visit.
She “misses us”.
Yeah, she misses us now, but I bet she won't once the baby's here.
She'll have Mary Anne, Richard, and the baby in stupid stupid Stonybrook all the time.
She won't need us any more.
Will she?
***
“Jeffy? Are you mad at me?” Sharon asked, pausing in front of the closed door to her son's room, waiting for a response.
“You wouldn't understand!” Jeff answered, sounding like he'd been crying.
“Honey? I'm coming in, okay?”
She opened the door and slipped into Jeff's room, perching on the edge of his bed, while he resolutely pretended to be asleep. She let out a sigh. Much to her surprise, he sat up, tears staining his cheeks.
“You're just gonna forget about us!”
“Jeffrey! What are you talking about?”
“When the baby's born. You're just gonna forget about me and Dawn 'cause you'll have a whole family here in Stoneybrook!”
“That isn't true, and you know it. Did your father forget about you two when Carol had her baby?”
“We live with them!”
“Yes, but they could have decided to send you two over here, to live with me, and just focused on their new baby. But did they?”
He shook his head, staring down at his lap. “No. They didn't.”
“Honey, I won't love any of you any less when the baby comes, you know that. You shouldn't worry about that, Jeffy.”
“I know. I can't help it, though. You're my mom. You're not supposed to have babies and be pregnant!”
She snorted, trying not to laugh. “How on earth do you think you and your sister got here? A stork?”
“Yeah - I mean, no, but..”
“You're a bit embarrassed?”
“It's not that, it's just weird.”
“Oh, Jeffy... I understand. I really do.”
He looked wary, and a bit uncertain. “You do? Really?”
“Yeah. It's okay if you think it's weird that I'm pregnant. I just don't want you to be mad at me.”
“Why would I be mad at you? I don't mind having a little sister! I just don't want you to forget about me and Dawn.”
“And I won't. I promise, honey.”
“Okay. Can I help name the baby?”
Sharon paused, trying to formulate an answer. Could Jeff help name the baby? She supposed he could, at least a little bit, and if it made him happy...
“You can help me and Richard name her, okay? All of you can.”
“Really?”
He actually looked excited, and she smiled at him.
“Yeah. Of course. But we get the final say.”
Much to her surprise, Sharon found herself being enveloped in a hug by Jeff, and she hugged him back, not wanting to ruin the moment. She'd been afraid of his reaction to her pregnancy for awhile, and she felt just awful that it had made him cry. And that he'd thought she wouldn't care about him and Dawnie anymore, which was far from the truth.
Of course she'd still care about them. They were still her babies, even though they hadn't been babies for awhile and even though they lived clear across the country.
“I'm not hurting you, am I?” Jeff asked, a worried look coming over his face.
“Oh, honey, no. You're not. Don't worry about it.”
“What about my sister?”
“What about her?”
“I'm not hugging you too tightly?” he asked, releasing her. She smiled.
“Aw, no, Jeffy. You're not. Come here, you want to try to see if your sister will kick for you?”
He nodded, “Do you think she will?”
“Yeah.”
“Cool!” he said, as he offered her his hand, “I wanna try. I'm her big brother! Her only one!”
“I know you are,” she said, as she laid his hand on her abdomen, “and you're very special to her. Whenever you're in Stoneybrook, you've got to protect her, like you do Gracie. You promise you will?”
“Yeah, Mom. I promise.”
She gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Thanks, Jeffy. You're the best.”
“I thought Richard was the best,” he said with an impish grin. She smiled back.
“Jeffy, you knew what I meant!”
“I know, Mom, I know.”
She moved his hand to where the baby had just nudged, and she pressed down, getting her to kick harder for her only brother.
“Did you feel that?” Sharon asked, as the baby kicked again. She stared down at her little bump, smiling to herself. That was her baby kicking. Her and Richie's baby. She felt a bit silly, being so excited over the same exact things she'd experienced during her pregnancies with Dawn and then Jeff, but she couldn't help it. She really couldn't.
Richie had told her she was positively adorable, and she liked that. Even though he'd made her blush by saying it in front of some of her colleagues.
Apparently that had made her even more adorable to him.
Jeff spoke, drawing her out of her daydream. “Yeah, Mom, I did. Am I doing something wrong?”
“No, why?”
“'Cause she keeps kickin', that's all,” he explained, moving his hand over her belly, “I wanna make sure that that's okay.”
“Oh, sweetie, it's fine. She's just playing with you.”
“She is?”
“Yeah. You're her big brother. She likes you. She's just having fun.”
“She is? With me?”
“Yes, with you! Don't worry, Jeffy, I won't make you feel in front of your friends, I-”
He cut her off, blushing lightly. “I don't care. I'm not ashamed of my sister. I'm gonna miss her when Dawn and I go back to Palo.”
Her son's innocent remark reminded her that she had yet to compose her letter to Sunny, and she bit back a sigh. She didn't really want to write to her, after all. Sunny was, well, a bit reckless, and though it was slightly hypocritical of her to feel that her boyfriend was unsuitable, well, she couldn’t help thinking that way.
Sunny was fifteen, barely, and Ducky was eighteen. She was pretty sure that it was slightly illegal for them to be dating.
At least with her and Richie it had simply been a class difference, not one based on age.
She exhaled, refocusing her attention on Jeff. “I know you will, honey. But you'll be back soon. Besides, you still have eleven days left.”
“I know...”
“Jeffy, you wouldn't be happy here. The novelty of your sister would wear off and you'd just be miserable.”
“...I know.”
“I'd much rather you be happy.”
“I know.”
“So, tell me, how is Gracie?”
She knew that Jeff loved his little sister, and, truthfully, she was happy for Carol and Jack, (hard as that was for most people to believe).
Sure, it was a bit unorthodox, but really, was it that shocking that being clear across the country from one another had mellowed things out between them? The occasional emails that they sent with pictures of Dawn, Jeff, and little Gracie were actually sweet, and Mary Anne (and all the other girls that had traveled to Palo City over the summer) had mentioned how sweet her son was to the little baby.
He beamed, moving his hands to another spot on her belly. “She's great, Mom! She's learning how to talk 'n stuff, and she's trying to walk, and she loves me. Dad said that I have to be a positive influence for her.”
“He's right,” she replied, “I know you'll do a great job. You gonna teach both your sisters about basketball?”
“Yeah!”
She kissed him on the cheek.
“You're the best, Jeffy. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too, Mom. You wanna watch some TV together?”
“Sure.”
***
“Mom, time to wake up.”
“Huh? Oh, hi, Dawnie. What are you doing home? I thought you and Mary Anne went to the movies.”
“We did.” Dawn said, shedding her coat on the couch beside her mother, whom she'd rudely awoken.“We just got back, and Jeff said you'd fallen asleep five minutes into the first quarter. We were wondering if you wanted some cocoa.”
“You're having cocoa? You?”
“You don't have to sound so shocked,” she said, kissing her on the cheek.“I'm not some sort of veggie freak any longer.”
The comment by Abby Stevenson had indeed stung, and the bitterness that Dawn felt towards her seeped through to her voice.
“Dawnie?”
“Yeah?”
“Who called you that? Was it your grandmother?”
“No, it was Abby Stevenson. I didn't tell you this yesterday, because I was so upset, but we got into a fight after I left Granny's.”
She let her mother wrap her arms around her, holding her tightly, and she began to sob. Why was everything so difficult? Why? Was it just a part of growing up?
“Honey, you're not a freak,” she said, rocking her back and forth, “you're a teenager. You might have been a bit, well, overzealous with some of your causes, but you're certainly not a freak.”
“You mean it?”
“Of course I do. Your father thought I was the oddest person around because I belonged to the UCLA Young Republicans group, okay?”
“Dad? Why?”
“Because he was a hippie!” she paused, “Well, not a hippie, exactly, but he was certainly a bit more liberal than I was.”
“So basically you're saying that I shouldn't let Abby bother me?”
“Exactly.”
“Okay, Mommy,” Dawn whispered, wishing she was a little kid again. “I believe you. I love you, Mommy.”
“Oh, Dawnie...” Her mother stroked her hair as she spoke. “You shouldn't worry so much. Why don't you take a nap with me?”
“Another nap?”
She didn't really want to sleep, and she pouted at her mother.
“Or we could just relax? That cocoa actually sounds wonderful.”
“Okay, Mom,” she said, sitting up.“I'll go get us some.”
“Can I have extra marshmallows?”
“Sure, Mom. Anything for my little sister.”
Dawn headed into the kitchen and prepared the two mugs of hot cocoa, making sure to put a lot of marshmallows in her mother's. She only put a couple in hers (she still wasn't a big fan of all that sugar, all at once), and she carried them out to the living room, relieved that her mother had turned off ESPN.
Personally, she thought sports were so boring.
Jeff, of course, loved them.
Sharon sipped her drink, “Speaking of younger sisters, where's Mary Anne?”
“She went with Sam and Stacey to Kristy's house. I guess her sitting job went poorly, again.”
“I feel bad for Karen,” Sharon said, eating a marshmallow. “I don't particularly enjoy her company, but her stepfather was a real jerk while we were in high school together. Seth Engle. He was a grade below us, but he was part of the group that made fun of Richie so much.”
“Was he really?”
“Yeah. I don't think he's changed much.”
The fact that her stepfather had been bullied at high school surprised her. Richard was just so nice.
“Why did they bully him, Mom?”
“Oh, you know, because they thought he was different.” She took a sip of her cocoa. “They were just awful to him. Don't ask him about it, honey. He doesn't like to talk about it.”
“I won't, Mom.”
“Thanks, Dawnie. Oh, hi, there. Your big sister's back home, so you've decided to kick?”
“Can I feel?”
“Of course, Dawnie.”
Dawn laid her hands on her mother's abdomen and felt the baby kick, a wide grin coming to her face. She loved feeling her sister kick. It was really cool.
“When we come back for Christmas break, you'll be how far along?”
She curled up next to her mother while she waited for the answer.
“Six months, sweetie.”
The baby kicked, as if she was agreeing. Dawn smiled.
“And for February break?”
“Nearly eight months, sweetie. Your father said he'd arrange with Vista for you and Jeffy to get some time off school to come visit when the baby's born.”
“He did?”
“Yeah. He said that you'd be too excited to concentrate on your studies anyways.”
“He's right, Mom.”
“I know he is. You do realize that you using my abdomen as a pillow makes your sister incredibly active, right?”
She knew, but she faked an innocent grin.
“Does it? Do you mind?”
“Oh, no, sweetie. Go right ahead.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“You're welcome.”
“Mom?” she asked, looking up at her. “Is Jeff happy about the baby now?”
“Yeah,” she replied, “we talked about it, and he seems to be.”
“Good. I’m glad.”
“I know you are. I am too. You, he, and Mary Anne can all help us pick out a name, okay?”
“Really?”
“Yeah...” She trailed off, and Dawn wondered just what she was thinking of. “Just promise me it won’t be something like Clover?”
“Mom! I thought you liked that name!”
Dawn was only pretending to be offended.
“Of course I told Jenny that,” she said, shrugging innocently. “What was I supposed to say? That I’d hated it?”
“Mom, you named me Dawn!”
“Dawn is a pretty name!”
“I’m only teasing you, Mom,” she paused, smiling innocently, “how about Daffodil?”
“Dawnie!”
***
“Are you sure you feel up to paying host to a bunch of teenagers tonight, Shar?”
“Richie, for the thousandth time, yes. We're ordering Chinese takeout and I promise that I won't lift a finger, but I am fine.”
“You probably think I'm overreacting, don't you?”
“Richie, no. I think you're being so sweet.”
“You do?”
“Yes. I do. I don't mind you worrying about me.”
“You promise I'm not becoming ridiculously overprotective?”
“Oh, Richie, no. I don't think you're being ridiculously overprotective. I promise.” She paused, kissing him on the lips, before continuing her sentence. “I understand that you worry, and I don't blame you for worrying, and I kind of like it. Okay? If you were bothering me, I'd let you know.”
“You would?”
“Yes,” she promised, sitting beside him on their bed. “I would. But I don't mind you being concerned, or protective, or any of this.”
Richard Spier let his wife undo his tie (though he was a bit grateful she left it on the bed and not on the floor), and he gently kissed her on the lips, wishing he wasn't so darn nervous about the whole pregnancy thing. He knew that he was being irrational, and he hated it.
Richard liked being a rational person.
Sharon, she could be the irrational one, and he was content to bring her back down to earth.
“I can't help it,” he continued. “I can't help thinking of Alma, and...”
“Honey, I know. I know,” she said, leaning against him, “that you're just being concerned. It's okay. But you could do with remembering that I was pregnant twice before, and I'm still here, aren't I?”
“I know...”
“...It doesn't really matter. I think you're being sweet, Richie. I really do.”
“You do?”
He thought that he was being fairly ridiculous, but if Sharon thought he was being sweet, well, he certainly didn't want to stop her from that. She nodded, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.
He loved her so much. He didn’t want to lose her.
“Yeah. Who wouldn't?” she responded, shifting closer to him. “You're being so sweet, Richie, and I really appreciate it.”
“You...you do?”
“Yeah. Come on, Richie, you know I'd tell you the truth. I wouldn't lie to you.”
“I know.”
“I know you know. You're just being your usual worrywart self and that's what I've always loved about you, Richie.”
She kissed him again.
“I suppose you're right, Shar.” He slipped off his dress shoes, briefly letting her go to slip out of his suit jacket. “And I am glad you're pregnant. You make it look so easy.”
“I do? Oh, Richie...”
“What?”
“Nothing. You're just cute, that's all.”
He managed a chuckle. “You're pretty cute yourself, Shar.”
Sharon blushed and he leaned in to kiss her, working his hands through her thick blonde hair, hoping that their bedroom door was closed. It wasn't like he was planning on doing anything too risque, he just didn't relish Jeff or the girls wandering past and seeing them making out.
Marrying Sharon had loosened him up a bit, but certainly not that much.
She pulled away from him, smiling slightly, and he let her take his hand and place it on her abdomen, where their baby was kicking. He grinned at her, kissing her on the forehead.
“She's kicking for you, you know that, right?”
“I know, Shar, I know.” He cleared his throat, gently massaging her abdomen, trying to make the baby kick more. Their daughter obliged. “She is rather active, isn't she?”
Sharon giggled, nodding. “Yeah. Especially when you're around.”
“Really?” he asked, moving his hand to another spot on her abdomen to see if their baby would move there. “Does it bother you?”
“Oh, no, it doesn't bother me. Not at all.” Her eyes met his, and she stared at him while she continued speaking. “I'm glad that she kicks for you. And I'm glad that you're so happy about this, Richie. I am.”
“I know you are. I'm sorry your parents are being so awful, Sh-”
“Don't be. It's not your fault that they haven't changed since we were teenagers. I don't really care what they think, anyways. We're happy, and that's all that matters to me. I promise.”
“I believe you, Shar, I just wish that they'd-”
“It won't happen, Richie. I know it won't. I don't want to talk about it, okay?”
He felt just awful for accidentally upsetting her, and he pulled her close, smoothing her hair. “I'm sorry I mentioned it, honey.”
“It's okay.”
He felt it wasn't, but she didn't look so upset any more, so he gently kissed her, hoping that was enough.
“I am sorry.”
She smiled. “I know.”