[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.
[Raleigh looks at Mako, just beaming at her because he's that happy and he wears his heart on his sleeve and all that. And then he's sliding off the couch to play a small game of chase with Sophia and the dog who joins in when she starts yelling and laughing and she doesn't outrun him for very long, before he grabs her. Swings her up in his arms and kisses her hair, her cheek amidst laughter and squealing.
This is what they fought for, isn't it. The chance for little girls like her to be happy and safe and loved.
Sophia exhausts herself to the point where she's not really struggling anymore, at least not enough to keep him from sitting back down next to Mako on the couch with her in his arms and gives Raleigh a big, wet, sloppy kiss back on the chin.]
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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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This is what they fought for, isn't it. The chance for little girls like her to be happy and safe and loved.
Sophia exhausts herself to the point where she's not really struggling anymore, at least not enough to keep him from sitting back down next to Mako on the couch with her in his arms and gives Raleigh a big, wet, sloppy kiss back on the chin.]
I think it's Mommy's turn now.