[Sophia asked for a puppy in exchange for a little brother and so she got to pick out the one she wanted, which was an adorable little husky one and even though Raleigh warned her that the puppy wouldn't stay that small forever, that he was going to get very big, she insisted.
Look at his eyes, Daddy! He has blue eyes! I want him.
And Raleigh's a grade A sucker when it comes to her, he knows that and they come back from the store with a husky puppy and a few toys for it to play with. The puppy sits on Sophia's lap the entire ride home, alternating between licking her face and trying to get free and literally, the best sound Raleigh has ever heard is his little girl laughing.
When they get home, Raleigh hands her a tennis ball and tells her to start teaching the dog to play fetch. Neither dog nor child seems to get the idea of fetch, it turns into keep away and chase the ball with the dog and he supposes that's good enough.]
[ So Raleigh and Sophia come back with a new puppy and Mako comes out to delighted shrieking and yapping and Raleigh watching the proceedings, every inch the proud father.
She settles by him on the couch as she watches Sophia and their new little husky play with the ball, amused. It's rare to see her so happy, and Mako is heartened by it. The dog would be good for her, even if they're going to have to find a new and bigger house soon. ]
[Not because he wants something smaller but because he knows that Mako would appreciate a dog that didn't weigh more than her. Guaranteed that husky will end up bigger than her too, even including her pregnant belly.]
[ Mako teases him gently, nudging his shoulder before she watches Sophia and the puppy. When the ball rolls to her feet, Mako tosses it, only the puppy doesn't leave, curiously sniffing at her toes and licking, and not resisting when Mako leans over to pick him up.
[Sophia toddles over with the dog, and after the puppy gets picked up, she more or less climbs on top of Raleigh's lap, determined not to be left out of anything and he's pretty sure that behavior's only going to get worse when the baby comes and he's running out of time to sit her down and talk to her about it.
Not tonight, for sure because she just got a puppy and she's excited but probably before Mako goes into labor.]
[ The puppy's wiggling over to lick at Sophia's face too, excited to be with so many people at once, and Mako releases the adorable little creature so that he could climb on her lap in return, wiggling between Sophia and Raleigh.
Mako's watching them with unmistakable fondness, leaning against Raleigh because she feels bloated and tired and her feet are sore. ]
What should we name the pup, Sophia? How about Frankie?
[If he didn't have a lap full of toddler and puppy right now, he'd rub her feet for her.
Sophia grabs the puppy by the face, studying him seriously before she nods. Yes, Frankie is the perfect name for him. And that really has Raleigh giving Mako a look-- maybe he won't rub her feet after all.]
[ Mako gives him a sweet and innocent smile, absently rubbing her rounded belly. She's heavy with child, and about to be due late next month, and he should still rub her feet for her because. ]
But Frankie is an adorable name. Isn't that right, Sophia? [ Yeah! Sophia agrees enthusiastically, giggling as Frankie wags his tail happily and licks her face all over. ] At least it wasn't Wilson?
[ Mako makes a face, because Frankie is totally a cuter name than Wilson. Maybe they can get a second dog and name him Wilson, who knows?
Meanwhile, the puppy is exploring the cushions, with a pleased Sophia following after, before she's scooping him up and carrying him to the living room floor, deciding that Mommy and Daddy's conversations are boring to her right now, and there's more fun to be had with the newest (to date) member of their little family. ]
We could name the next one Wilson. I imagine you'll buy her one more.
[They're not naming both dogs after both of his middle names, it's just not happening. That's not a denial that he would promise Sophia another dog though, because knowing him-- he would.
But right now, he's pulling Mako's feet over into his lap, she doesn't have to say it for him to know that she's feeling crabby from being so pregnant and she's not the only one who can't wait for it to be over.]
I'm not getting Sophia two dogs. One will be for the baby.
And that dog will be named Wilson. [ Yes they are. They're going to name the baby's dog Wilson, just watch. Raleigh's already pretty much half-puppy, anyway. But oooooooh, this is good. This is wonderful and fantastic and good; Raleigh's massaging her swollen feet and Mako's making herself comfortable, before she shifts and grimaces. ]
Oh. The baby's stretching inside me. [ And pressing against just about everything. Settle down, little one, Mommy needs her rest. ]
[Mommy does need her rest but Daddy wants to feel the baby move, and he does, letting go of one of Mako's feet so he can rest his hand on her belly instead. This is technically his first born and he's fascinated by this stuff.]
[ Ugh, Raleigh. It's an incredible feeling, though, and she forgives Raleigh for abandoning the massage to put his hand on her belly. She moves it over where the baby's tiny hand is pressing against it, and she's sure there's probably a faint outline of it.
Do you feel it? That's their little boy, saying hello to Daddy.
Mako beams down at him, because oh, it aches, and she can hardly wait for this pregnancy to be over. ] Or he's heard Daddy's voice and he wants to say hi.
[It's so incredible because that's their baby in there. A little person that they made. Their little miracle.
Raleigh can't wait for her pregnancy to be over either because he's got a severe case of couvade's, amplified, he thinks, through the Drift. So every bad mood and craving and ache she gets, he's getting and try dealing with that and making your wife happy still. It's hard.
And he's selfish, he wants to hold the baby right now.]
Hey little man. [He runs his thumb over the spot, over and over.] Be nice to Mommy, I'm the only one allowed to be rough with her.
[ Mako just laughs, low and quiet as she swats at him. ] Don't corrupt him, he hasn't even seen the world yet.
[ But no, she's fond, she loves seeing Raleigh so happy, the knowledge that after so much pain and loss, there is hope in the new life that they're bringing into the world. She knows he suffers from what she suffers too, that Couvad's is hitting him so much harder than it ought to, and she's running her fingers through his hair, her eyes softening. ]
[To be fair though, Mako, they've probably already corrupted him a little bit. Sure, their baby was no more than the size of a peanut and she was hardly even showing when they had sex but they still did it.
Raleigh keeps moving his thumb in a circle on her belly, looking up at her with a soft smile.]
You're pregnant. The book you made me read said it happens. There's nothing to thank me for.
[ Oh, she likes that -- if she was any more of a cat, she'd be purring right about now. And obviously the baby likes it, because he's settling down inside her, and she stops having the curious feeling inside her. And don't front, they even had sex when he's more than the size of a peanut (or did he forget that they did last month?)
Admittedly, Raleigh needed some convincing, and Mako had to get the gynaecologist's explicit approval before he so much as approached her. ] And the Couvade's, too. I know you've been suffering as well.
[He didn't forget. But he had been scared shitless to do more than pat her shoulder for a few days, once he realized that she was showing and the baby was real and getting bigger and what if he did something wrong.]
Not your fault I'm feeding off your emotions. So it's fine, really. He's almost out.
Is it strange that I think I'd miss having him...?
[ Mako asks after a pause, running her fingers through his hair absently -- she loves that he's so careful, really, that he's even more alarmed for their child than she is. She's nuzzling against him, sweetly wistful. ]
Although I won't miss the nights where you won't go any further than just patting me on the shoulder.
[How the heck would he know, he's not pregnant. Is it weird to miss the baby once he's born? Raleigh just shrugs a little, and goes back to rubbing her feet.]
[ Mako frowns thoughtfully; her memory must be going -- she takes a few moments to remember, and recalls it -- oh, yes. A kiss. Basking under Raleigh's talented hands, she heaves a long, happy sigh. ]
[Wow, make him feel loved. He can kiss around the belly bump just fine, thank you.
Raleigh slides her feet off his lap though, because he's not that flexible and leans over to kiss her softly, ignoring the peanut gallery and her little chorus 'ewww!' for a moment.]
[ She's laughing when Sophia registers her disgust, because she's at that age where affections between parents are gross; and Mako's kissing him back, briefly combing her fingers through his short blond hair.
He's loved, forever and always. The peanut gallery, however, vociferously protests, No! I don't wanna! She smiles up at him, then comments. ] Looks like you have another little lady to kiss, Daddy.
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Look at his eyes, Daddy! He has blue eyes! I want him.
And Raleigh's a grade A sucker when it comes to her, he knows that and they come back from the store with a husky puppy and a few toys for it to play with. The puppy sits on Sophia's lap the entire ride home, alternating between licking her face and trying to get free and literally, the best sound Raleigh has ever heard is his little girl laughing.
When they get home, Raleigh hands her a tennis ball and tells her to start teaching the dog to play fetch. Neither dog nor child seems to get the idea of fetch, it turns into keep away and chase the ball with the dog and he supposes that's good enough.]
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She settles by him on the couch as she watches Sophia and their new little husky play with the ball, amused. It's rare to see her so happy, and Mako is heartened by it. The dog would be good for her, even if they're going to have to find a new and bigger house soon. ]
She chose him?
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[Not because he wants something smaller but because he knows that Mako would appreciate a dog that didn't weigh more than her. Guaranteed that husky will end up bigger than her too, even including her pregnant belly.]
She's stubborn, so here we are.
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[ Mako teases him gently, nudging his shoulder before she watches Sophia and the puppy. When the ball rolls to her feet, Mako tosses it, only the puppy doesn't leave, curiously sniffing at her toes and licking, and not resisting when Mako leans over to pick him up.
Oh, he is adorable. ] Raleigh, he has your eyes.
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Not tonight, for sure because she just got a puppy and she's excited but probably before Mako goes into labor.]
Does he? I didn't notice.
[Yeah huh, Daddy. You knew he has blue eyes.]
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Mako's watching them with unmistakable fondness, leaning against Raleigh because she feels bloated and tired and her feet are sore. ]
What should we name the pup, Sophia? How about Frankie?
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Sophia grabs the puppy by the face, studying him seriously before she nods. Yes, Frankie is the perfect name for him. And that really has Raleigh giving Mako a look-- maybe he won't rub her feet after all.]
You picked that on purpose.
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But Frankie is an adorable name. Isn't that right, Sophia? [ Yeah! Sophia agrees enthusiastically, giggling as Frankie wags his tail happily and licks her face all over. ] At least it wasn't Wilson?
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(Yes he is, but he still has to get rid of the toddler and puppy in his lap first)]
Wilson is more of a dog's name.
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Meanwhile, the puppy is exploring the cushions, with a pleased Sophia following after, before she's scooping him up and carrying him to the living room floor, deciding that Mommy and Daddy's conversations are boring to her right now, and there's more fun to be had with the newest (to date) member of their little family. ]
We could name the next one Wilson. I imagine you'll buy her one more.
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But right now, he's pulling Mako's feet over into his lap, she doesn't have to say it for him to know that she's feeling crabby from being so pregnant and she's not the only one who can't wait for it to be over.]
I'm not getting Sophia two dogs. One will be for the baby.
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Oh. The baby's stretching inside me. [ And pressing against just about everything. Settle down, little one, Mommy needs her rest. ]
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He wants to play with the puppy too, I bet.
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Do you feel it? That's their little boy, saying hello to Daddy.
Mako beams down at him, because oh, it aches, and she can hardly wait for this pregnancy to be over. ] Or he's heard Daddy's voice and he wants to say hi.
[ Her smile widens. ] Come say hello, too.
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Raleigh can't wait for her pregnancy to be over either because he's got a severe case of couvade's, amplified, he thinks, through the Drift. So every bad mood and craving and ache she gets, he's getting and try dealing with that and making your wife happy still. It's hard.
And he's selfish, he wants to hold the baby right now.]
Hey little man. [He runs his thumb over the spot, over and over.] Be nice to Mommy, I'm the only one allowed to be rough with her.
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[ But no, she's fond, she loves seeing Raleigh so happy, the knowledge that after so much pain and loss, there is hope in the new life that they're bringing into the world. She knows he suffers from what she suffers too, that Couvad's is hitting him so much harder than it ought to, and she's running her fingers through his hair, her eyes softening. ]
I know I've been difficult. Thank you.
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Raleigh keeps moving his thumb in a circle on her belly, looking up at her with a soft smile.]
You're pregnant. The book you made me read said it happens. There's nothing to thank me for.
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Admittedly, Raleigh needed some convincing, and Mako had to get the gynaecologist's explicit approval before he so much as approached her. ] And the Couvade's, too. I know you've been suffering as well.
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Not your fault I'm feeding off your emotions. So it's fine, really. He's almost out.
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[ Mako asks after a pause, running her fingers through his hair absently -- she loves that he's so careful, really, that he's even more alarmed for their child than she is. She's nuzzling against him, sweetly wistful. ]
Although I won't miss the nights where you won't go any further than just patting me on the shoulder.
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I'm pretty sure I kissed you last night.
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[ Mako frowns thoughtfully; her memory must be going -- she takes a few moments to remember, and recalls it -- oh, yes. A kiss. Basking under Raleigh's talented hands, she heaves a long, happy sigh. ]
You should kiss me again. I miss you.
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Raleigh slides her feet off his lap though, because he's not that flexible and leans over to kiss her softly, ignoring the peanut gallery and her little chorus 'ewww!' for a moment.]
I'm going to get you next, Sophia.
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He's loved, forever and always. The peanut gallery, however, vociferously protests, No! I don't wanna! She smiles up at him, then comments. ] Looks like you have another little lady to kiss, Daddy.
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