Chapter Text
Caitlyn
A ray of sun hit Caitlyn’s face, waking her through squinted eyes. As she became more aware of her surroundings, she wasn’t surprised to see Vi’s side of the bed empty. It wouldn’t have even mattered the hour; this is just what their lives were becoming - a war for the bathroom, not that they didn’t have plenty of others to use, but Caitlyn wasn’t desperate enough to go to the one in the hallway. Not yet, anyway.
She turned over, making herself comfortable, but became more alert when she heard the toilet flush and the tap turn on. Sure enough, Vi slunk out of the bathroom, all groggy like she was trying to keep whatever sleepiness she had so she could fall back asleep the minute she hit the mattress instead of tossing and turning in bed, only to have to wake up an hour before the alarm would have normally gone off.
That grogginess died off the moment she met Caitlyn’s eyes and realized she, too, was awake. Vi visibly deflated in front of her. “Caitlyn,” she whined, rubbing her face. “We can’t keep doing this. We need our sleep.”
Vi stepped right up to Caitlyn’s side of the bed, leaning over to caress Caitlyn’s face. She didn’t let Vi do that for long before she moved over, making space for her to get back in under the covers. Vi quickly took up that empty space, and so much for finding sleep again, because the look on her face was far more awake now as they cuddled close.
“I’m sorry, darling,” Caitlyn said, pulling her in closer. “Perhaps the excitement of the last few days has reset my internal alarm clock. I seem to be on an entirely new schedule.”
Vi sighed. “That’s not going to help either of us. This fatigue is going to hit you as hard as it’s hitting me in a few weeks. I’m sure of it.”
“Well, perhaps you’ll have that second trimester boost of energy by then and be able to pick up my slack.”
Vi smiled at her in that shit-eating kind of way, shaking her head. “You know, I’m totally on board with what we’re doing here-”
“Sure sounds like it,” Caitlyn said with a wry smile in return. Vi merely put her finger on Caitlyn’s lips to shush her.
“Let me finish. I’m on board with what we’re doing here. I was always going to support you with this decision, but it’s when we talk like this that I see where everyone’s coming from when they call us absurd.”
Caitlyn laughed softly, pulling Vi closer. She kissed her lightly before pulling back. “At least we’re absurd together.”
Vi just shook her head, closing her eyes, lying back in bed. She didn’t look tired, but if she was going to try to find sleep again, Caitlyn wouldn’t pester her. In fact, she would try to help. Vi always loved it when Caitlyn massaged her scalp, always commenting on her long, slender fingers and how good they felt, so that’s just what Caitlyn did. She threaded her fingers through Vi’s hair, so silky and smooth, and already so much fuller than it was a few months ago. Ah, the benefits of pregnancy. It suited her. It was just too bad she had such a rough time with this one so far.
Vi relaxed more and more by the second. The tension visibly released from her shoulders as she melted into the pillow and the mattress, all while Caitlyn couldn’t keep her eyes off of her. She was so beautiful when she was relaxed like this. She was always beautiful, of course, but there was something special about having this delicate trust and intimacy with someone to witness her being lulled to sleep.
The way Vi’s breathing became rhythmic, Caitlyn assumed she must have fallen back asleep. She was just about to stop the massage when Vi hummed, and not in that verge of sleep sort of way, either.
“Know what I could go for right now?” Vi asked, and even though she was clearly awake, the grogginess was flooding her voice all over again.
“What’s that, darling?” Caitlyn asked softly, trying not to stir her more than what Vi was already offering as she continued the head massage.
“Fried rice.”
Caitlyn let out a breathy laugh, wondering if this was another one of those strange verge-of-sleep admissions. “For breakfast? That almost sounds like a craving to me. I’m afraid it might be difficult to order in Chinese at this hour.”
“Yeah? Even for the takeout queen?”
“I’m afraid so. I can’t do much ordering if they’re not even open, now can I?”
“That’s a shame. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since we were talking about restaurants for Sunday dinner.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Vi shrugged, even with her eyes still closed and her body trying to succumb to sleep through their conversation. “Tacos just seemed easier for a huge group. I don’t know.”
“Still, you haven’t had much of an appetite at all the last couple of months. If there’s something you’d actually like, you should say so.”
Vi nodded along when a sleepy laugh escaped her. “Damn, now that you say it like that, I guess this really does feel like a craving.”
Caitlyn smiled lightly, letting the words sink in. Their cravings started so much earlier last time, but then again, Vi had been too sick this time to have much of one before now. Fried Rice, she thought, shaking her head mirthfully. And that’s when it struck her. She gasped, stopping the head massage more abruptly than even she registered, bolting upright.
Vi’s eyes shot open in alarm. “What?”
“Vi,” she said, all emotional now. She wanted to say it was far too soon for the hormones to be getting to her like this, but then she had to remind herself that she’d been pumped full of hormones for two months already, despite the pregnancy itself still being new. “You’re craving fried rice.”
Vi looked worried. “So?”
“A savory food,” Caitlyn said, and the emotions still flooded her voice like that should have been some sentimental proclamation in and of itself. “You’re having a boy.”
Vi huffed, relaxing back into the bed, closing her eyes. “Not this again.”
“What? It was true last time.”
“And it’s still not scientifically vetted.”
“You were the one who brought it up when all I craved was savory foods.”
Vi huffed a laugh. “Yeah, and believe me, I regretted it back then, too.”
“But you also entertained it.”
Vi smiled then, opening one eye all sly. “I know I did, but that doesn’t make it true.”
Caitlyn pouted a little. Perhaps it wasn’t true, but all this was evoking memories, anyway. Vi was far enough along now that Caitlyn couldn’t help starting to picture everything. Whether or not it was true, all she could see was Vi holding a little boy with blond hair. Carver could have a brother.
Vi’s hand moved to cup Caitlyn’s jaw as her thumb caressed her cheek. “I just don’t want you to get invested in an idea only for it to not be true.”
Caitlyn nodded then, letting out her own quiet huff. “Perhaps I did really run away with it, didn’t I?”
“Perhaps?”
Caitlyn rolled her eyes. “Alright, fine. I did. I may have already envisioned Carver holding a blond baby boy.”
Vi covered her face with her palms, and Caitlyn couldn’t help but smile. “Not with the blond again.”
“Would that be so bad?”
Even with her face still hidden, Caitlyn could see the smile creeping out. Vi put her hands down to rest over her chest. “No.”
They shared a moment, just smiling at each other. Perhaps she really had just gotten ahead of herself, but it was exciting to start imagining it.
“But hey, speaking of Carver, you think we should just tell him and get it over with? More of the family is starting to know now, and we don’t want him accidentally hearing it from anyone else, right?”
She had figured they’d take their time and tell him next weekend, but Vi made a good argument. “You have a point.”
Vi got all quiet, looking up at the ceiling now.
“You’re not nervous, are you?”
Vi’s eyes met hers again. “A little, actually, yeah. I don’t want him to get jealous or think I’m pushing him aside.”
Caitlyn smiled at her painfully. “We’ll make sure that doesn’t happen. You’re still his mommy. Nothing will ever change that.”
Vi gained some confidence with that one, giving a subtle nod, but with it, she turned to see the clock. “Should we get up, then? Might take a bit of explaining.”
“You’re probably right. Do you want to text Powder? As long as she’s aware of it, we could tell Carver about me, then, too.”
“Yeah, good call. I’ll make us some breakfast, too.”
Vi was already climbing back over to her side of the bed to get her phone from the nightstand, so Caitlyn got up, making her way to Carver’s room.
She opened the door quietly to ensure he wasn’t startled awake, and sure enough, he hadn’t been. He was still zonked out in his twin-sized bed that was entirely too big for him. He already had it for half a year, along with the pillow to go with it, but he still hadn’t adjusted to it, preferring to sleep in the middle of the bed, flat on the mattress with his arms sprawled out. It reminded her of when he was a newborn, the way he would starfish before a swaddling. He’d always stretch his arms out that exact same way he was doing now, almost as though to say the world couldn’t contain him.
Caitlyn smiled so wide at the sight, but now that she was here, she dreaded the thought of waking him. He looked too peaceful, and sleep was so important at this age, but that didn’t change the fact that she and Vi both worked. She counted herself lucky to have had the power to put a daycare in the Kiramman towers so she could still see him throughout the day, but there was still a schedule to adhere to.
Caitlyn kneeled next to the bed, resting her arms on the mattress delicately to ensure it wouldn’t rile him awake just yet. Now that she was here watching him, it made her realize how distracted she’d been lately, and that she hadn’t taken the time to appreciate him or their time together.
Of course, she’d taken over for a lot of his care as Vi was dealing with the worst of her nausea and fatigue, so she and Carver spent plenty of time together, but between all the doctors appointments and feeling off from all the hormones, she’d forgotten to take a step back and truly value that time. Everything was such a rush, just getting through bath time and bedtime routines to get him tucked soundly in bed. Then it was a rush out the door in the morning before daycare. Even this last weekend, he’d spent entirely away from home.
Now she couldn’t help but caress his little face, and thankfully, he still didn’t stir.
While the weekend spent at Powder and Ekko’s house was valuable to her and Vi, and important in helping them process how their lives were changing, she couldn’t help but miss him a little, even though he was right here in front of her. She’d have to remind herself to slow down a little, because the truth of the matter was, things were going to be very different soon enough. Caitlyn couldn’t wait, of course. Seeing Carver as a big brother was something she envisioned before his birth, hoping Vi might want to add another member to their family someday. Carver having a sibling was all she ever hoped for. But there was no denying that finding time to just be with him would become more difficult when that day did finally come, at least for a while. It would be important to slow down as much as she could and savor this little boy while he was still actually little.
Through one of her caresses, Carver finally turned into her palm with a nasally morning breath. His eyes fluttered open, taking a moment to wake. “Mama?” He was still drowsy, stretching his arms out for her.
“Oh, now you like to cuddle?” she asked cheekily as she got under the covers with him, pulling him closer.
“Yeah.”
Clearly, he hadn’t picked up on her motherly guilting - a habit she should quickly nip in the bud. Instead, she just took the moment that was gifted to her, like the universe knew she anguished for it. She rubbed his back comfortingly and smelled his head before kissing his soft, black hair.
“I’m sorry I had to wake you so early. Mommy and I have something we want to talk to you about over breakfast.”
“Okay,” he said, all drowsy, even still. At least he was a good sport, although, who knew how that could change after he really woke up.
Even though they were on a bit of a timeframe, Caitlyn let him wake up gradually. She was the COO, after all, and Vi owned her gym. They could deal with the fallout at work for being late just this once.
Except the more he woke up, he whined a little, pushing her away. “You’re too hot.”
Caitlyn laughed as she took the blankets off of them. “Is that why you haven’t liked cuddling, then? Just because you’re too hot?”
“Yeah.”
“I wish you’d said so sooner. I’d much rather abandon the blanket than not get my Carver cuddles,” she said, going in for a kissy attack as she tickled him.
He finally started giggling awake, and if that wasn’t the best sound to grace this earth, she didn’t know what was. Just as he was squirming out of her grasp, she relented, letting him go.
“Alright. Are you hungry, darling?”
“Yeah.”
“Perfect. Let’s get you ready then, shall we?”
Caitlyn got out of the bed, extending her hand to help Carver out, too. She helped him get cleaned up and dressed. She combed his hair neatly in the way Vi often thought was overkill, but they both still thought he was charming with it done this way. By the time he was ready to go downstairs, he was surprisingly chipper and not grumpy at all, which served this forthcoming conversation well.
Caitlyn took his hand, helping him down the stairs as he held the railing, and for once, the smell of eggs was not wafting up the stairs from the kitchen. When they made it there, Caitlyn understood why. Apparently, it was going to be a fun cereal day. Vi was adamant about not keeping too much of it in the house, but they always had at least one box stashed away for special occasions.
“Froot Loops!” Carver practically yelled as he bounced up and down.
“Sure is, buddy,” Vi said happily from the counter, where she poured him a bowl. Notably, she had gotten ready for the day, too, already dressed in her workout clothes with her hair and makeup done. Her routine was never too involved, doing just the basics, but she looked wonderful, even half-hidden behind the island. “As long as you also eat your yogurt,” she said, pointing over at the table where a small container was already open and waiting for him with a spoon.
“Okay!” he already ran for his spot at the table, climbing into his chair with the booster seat. He started eating the yogurt, clearly excited about his morning treat.
That’s when Caitlyn noticed Vi’s gesture to join her, so she walked over, finally seeing why. Vi was wearing high-waisted workout pants that hugged her frame entirely, showcasing her little belly thanks to the loose crop top she wore over them. Caitlyn pouted at the sight.
“Quit it,” Vi said with a quiet laugh as she thwapped Caitlyn’s arm. “I was asking you over here to see if this was okay?”
“Of course it’s okay, darling,” Caitlyn said. The emotion in her voice flooded through, caressing Vi’s face as she said it. “You look beautiful.”
Instead of taking the compliment, Vi rolled her eyes. “I appreciate that, but I meant, you don’t think it’s going to expose things before talking?”
“It might. But it would be a good lead-in if it did.”
Vi took a breath, nodding along while Caitlyn looked at the assortment Vi put out for breakfast. There was a much more boring and adult cereal for them to go along with the yogurt. She didn’t particularly mind that, though, because, as much as Caitlyn liked to order food out, that didn’t mean she was anti-health foods, especially now that she was pregnant too.
She paused, lingering on that thought briefly, because it was still incredibly hard to believe. She had her blood test the previous day to confirm everything was well and good, but even with that and the two positive tests, it still felt surreal. Perhaps when she started getting symptoms, it would become real enough.
Caitlyn smiled, resting a gentle hand on her abdomen, filled with hope. Vi caught her with her own cheeky smile, nodding her head towards the action before she leaned in to whisper.
“And about that… Powder said they’ll come over soon to talk about that part. She figured it would be easier with you around to explain it to Nova, too.”
Caitlyn pouted again, nodding silently. She had no qualms about being involved in their announcement. Part of her motivation to do this was also for Nova, after all. It might be nice to see her reaction.
Caitlyn picked up the boring box of cereal, pouring it into one of the big bowls Vi brought out. “So much for protein this morning, hmm?”
Vi narrowed her eyes at Caitlyn. “What do you think the yogurt is for? It’s Greek. That stuff is packed with protein.”
“Of course it is.” Caitlyn rolled her eyes, but she didn’t mean it because she’d gladly take that, too.
After Vi poured the milk in Carver’s Froot Loops, Caitlyn brought that over to him first, so he wouldn’t get all antsy waiting for it. He was already nearly done with his yogurt, if she could even say that when half the container was all over his face. He licked his lips to compensate, but his tongue wasn’t nearly long enough to reach the whole mess.
“You’re enjoying that, hmm?” Caitlyn said, rubbing his back.
“Uh-huh.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll love this, then,” she said, gesturing to the cereal.
“Is this enough?” he asked, turning the nearly empty yogurt cup for her to check. A good layer of yogurt was left at the bottom, but he didn’t quite have the motor skills to get it all out yet.
“Sure. You can have your cereal now.”
He didn’t even wait before digging in. On Caitlyn’s way back, her eyes couldn’t help but be drawn back down to Vi’s baby bump. It really was out on display for all to see now, which served this coming conversation just fine, but this was her work attire, too.
“So, does this mean you’re ready to out this news to everyone at the gym now?”
Vi shook her head with an exasperated breath. “I’ve bailed on so many clients at this point. I’m almost in the second trimester now. It’s just getting too hard to hide.”
Caitlyn smiled at her, understanding the desire to be done with the secrecy. It really had nearly driven them all mad. “What if Claggor comes in for a workout?”
Vi shrugged. “I’d almost prefer it. Just get to tell him right then and there and be done with it.”
“Well, if that does happen, try to record it, will you?”
Vi laughed. “Sure, but I think there’s someone else to tell first.”
Caitlyn turned back to Carver, who had spilled a few drops of milk over the table since he still refused to eat over the bowl, but that’s precisely why they kept a washcloth on hand through every meal, so no big deal. Not to mention, Caitlyn could clean up his face.
Caitlyn joined Carver at the table, sitting beside him, while Vi joined the other. So much for worrying about Vi’s outfit betraying their news, because Carver only had eyes for his cereal. Caitlyn shot one last smile over at Vi, who looked ready to get this show on the road, so Caitlyn turned back to Carver.
“Remember how I said there was something Mommy and I wanted to discuss with you this morning?”
“Yeah,” he said, and a little bit of milk dribbled down his chin as he looked up at her.
Caitlyn laughed quietly, getting the washcloth out to wipe his face again, cleaning up the trail of milk drops left in his wake.
“Well,” Vi said, taking the lead, so Carver turned to her now. Caitlyn didn’t miss the nervous look on Vi’s face, but she softened it with a calming breath for Carver’s sake. “What we wanted to tell you is that you’re going to be a big brother.”
He practically slammed the spoon on the table, but it quickly became obvious that it was out of immense excitement instead of anger or shock. He gasped. “Really?!”
The relief on Vi’s face was just as powerful as Carver’s reaction. “Really, buddy.” Vi sat up straighter, pushing the chair away from the table a little bit to show off her belly. “See. There’s a baby right in here.”
“Really?!” he asked again.
“Yeah, really. We wouldn’t joke about that.”
Carver got down from his chair so he could give Vi’s belly a kiss, and in return, Vi sobbed silently in her hand, out of his line of sight. She blinked furiously before pulling Carver up onto her lap, giving him a big hug.
The sight alone already had Caitlyn in tears, and she wasn’t as good about holding them at bay. She was just glad that Vi was distracting him to avoid him wondering if something was wrong. Caitlyn wiped at her face as she continued watching.
“You’re going to be the best big brother, you know that?” Vi said, holding him close.
“Yeah!” he said in response, clearly not knowing the word humble just yet, but even that filled Caitlyn’s heart with pride, like he was ready and excited to take on this new role.
Vi started telling him about how much she loved being a big sister to Powder and Isha and how much fun it would be that he’d have a best friend for life. Somehow, Caitlyn managed to finish her breakfast in that time, leaving Vi alone with Carver to continue their discussion while she got ready for work. By the time her hair was done, her suit was on, and she was coming down the stairs, new voices flooded the house.
Caitlyn went to the living room, spotting Powder and Ekko sitting on the couch, filled with their own nerves, while Carver and Nova played with their toys. The moment Carver met eyes with Caitlyn, he bounced up.
“Can I tell her now?!” he asked, running over to Vi.
Vi nodded, so he ran back to his cousin.
“Nova, guess what?”
She didn’t look nearly as enthused as Carver was, but looked up at him while playing. “What?”
“I’m going to be a big brother!”
“Really?!” she asked, suddenly looking between Caitlyn and Vi. Her excitement wasn’t quite as bright as Carver’s had been, but she was generally more tempered with her emotions anyway.
“You didn’t see my belly when you came in here?” Vi asked, standing up to show it off, just as Caitlyn took a seat in the free chair so she could watch everything unfold. Nova walked over, placing her hand on it so sweetly. “Isn’t that cool? That’s your cousin in there.”
“Wow,” she said.
“There’s something else,” Ekko said, prompting Nova to turn to her dad and listen.
“What?”
“Why don’t you come over here?” he said, patting the empty spot on the couch between him and Powder.
She did as asked, already looking hesitant, ever intuitive. She looked between her mom and dad, waiting for her big news. Powder took Nova’s little hand in hers.
“Well, remember how Auntie Vi was the one who was pregnant with you?”
“Yeah? But that’s her baby this time, right?”
“Right,” Powder said with a soft laugh. “Auntie Vi is having her own baby this time. That’s going to be Carver’s brother or sister.”
Brother, Caitlyn couldn’t help but voice internally, but she’d keep it quiet, not wanting to get anyone’s hopes up if she happened to be wrong.
“Buuuut,” Powder said, and Nova turned to her, watching and waiting. “You’re going to be a big sister, too!” Powder’s face lit up to show her own excitement. Nova, meanwhile, did not. Her face was apathetic at best. “Auntie Caitlyn is pregnant with your brother or sister right now!” Powder said, trying to stir any sense of emotion in her daughter, but again, was met with apathy.
Nova looked between everyone in the room, still with that same expression, while everyone watched curiously. Finally, she got off the couch, walking over to Caitlyn. She was prepared to answer any questions because she always figured this might be part of the process. So she leaned over, extending her hands for Nova to hold, expecting a conversation.
Nova ignored her as her hand went straight for Caitlyn’s abdomen in the same spot she’d felt Vi’s. “But you don’t have a belly.”
Caitlyn laughed quietly, taking Nova’s hands now that she’d gotten the information she was looking for. “You’re right about that. That’s because your brother or sister is a lot smaller right now. They’re very brand new, while Auntie Vi has already been pregnant for a while.”
Nova still looked apathetic, and Caitlyn couldn’t tell if she was on the verge of tears or excitement now, but whichever way it was leaning, it was clear she needed more time to process than Carver did.
Finally, Nova released a big breath, looking Caitlyn in the eye. “Auntie Caitlyn?”
“Yes, Nova?”
“You like babies, right?”
“I love babies. That’s why I volunteered to do this.”
“Great!” Nova said, finding her smile once and for all. “You can keep this one.”
Caitlyn’s eyes went wide, darting over to Powder as she quickly had to extinguish a laugh. Meanwhile, Nova had let go of Caitlyn’s hands, going back to play with her toys now that her business was done.
Ekko shook his head, sinking his forehead into his palm while Powder deflated into the couch. “Well, sh-”
Ekko elbowed her quickly, and all of the adults let out a quiet laugh.
“Well, I certainly wasn’t expecting this outcome,” Caitlyn said, joining in.
“Yeah, I don’t think any of us were,” Ekko said, turning back to Nova.
And let’s just say, Caitlyn regretted carpooling to the Kiramman Towers that day when the car ride was filled with Nova’s tears after learning that Caitlyn would not, in fact, keep the baby as her own.