[Video Chat With Bes]

[roseredheart.insanejournal.com]

[She of course has a big, warm smile for him, as always, but there's a hint of nervous energy to her. Every so often, she glances at something off-camera]

Hi sweetheart! How are you today?

Comments

[mr-bes.insanejournal.com]

Better now. I've missed you. How are you doing?

[roseredheart.insanejournal.com]

I'm OK. Been feeling a little off the last few days, but nothing Apollo couldn't take care of.

You'll never guess what Alex did today! He pulled himself up on one of the chairs! I think he's going to start walking soon!

[mr-bes.insanejournal.com]

Geez, you're going to have to baby-proof the place before long. Then he'll be talking and you'll have to tell me the stories he shares.

He pauses and a look of concern overtakes the excitement of Alex's accomplishment.

Do you think you picked up a bug somewhere, sweetheart? It's not anything lingering from that crazy place, is it?

[roseredheart.insanejournal.com]

Well, it's already Laurel and Julian-proofed. I don't know how much more damage Alex could do with those two around.

[She shakes her head]
No... Apollo thinks it might be something... else.

[mr-bes.insanejournal.com]

... Erato, what aren't you telling me? Are you okay?

[roseredheart.insanejournal.com]

Yes, I'm fine! I'm just-- [she breaks off as she stares at the off-screen object] Oh... ...ohmigod...

[mr-bes.insanejournal.com]

[Bes sits bolt upright at her gasp, shifting forward to the edge of his chair. His face has gone tense with concern.]

Erato? What's going on? Are you okay?

[roseredheart.insanejournal.com]

[She makes a nervous little giggle and holds up a pink plastic stick in front of the camera. One very clearly marked with blue lines]

Yes... I'm... We're pregnant.

[mr-bes.insanejournal.com]

[He gapes, stares, is without words for long, heart-stopping moments... Then he suddenly bursts into laughter and reaches out a hand to press it against the monitor.]

Oh, good Christ. Really? We are? Oh, sweetheart.

[roseredheart.insanejournal.com]

[She nods]

Yeah... yeah we are. Apollo thought I might be, and this little stick says so too...

[She shrugs a little sheepishly]
I guess there was one thing that was real while we were in Faerie... And here's the proof.

[mr-bes.insanejournal.com]

[He sobers at her words but his hand stays against the monitoring as if he could touch her.]

Erato, there was plenty of real things while we were over there. It might not have been a wedding but you have me, all of me. Snap, sweetheart. And that's for mini-us, too.

[roseredheart.insanejournal.com]

Snap, sweetheart.

[The little nickname makes her laugh]
"Mini-us," huh? Can you believe you're really going to be a daddy?

[mr-bes.insanejournal.com]

Give me a few more minutes. Everything will catch up to speed in a bit. Like my brain and my breathing. My heart's okay, though.

[Suddenly, he sobers and searches her face.]

Are you okay with this? Are you happy?

[roseredheart.insanejournal.com]

Of course I'm happy, honey. We're going to be a family. In fact... And you don't have to say anything about this right now... I was thinking that, maybe at some point down the line, if everything was still going well... you might want to adopt Alex. Y'know, legally. I know you like to think of him as being yours, and... that'd make it official...

[mr-bes.insanejournal.com]

... Are you sure? I mean, you know I love Alex completely. He's the best. It would be an honor.

[roseredheart.insanejournal.com]

We don't have to decide it today. Just... food for thought. Alex should have a dad. Someone to teach him and take care of him if I'm ever not able to do it. Yes, I'll explain to him who fathered him when he's old enough to understand, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't have an actively-involved father. Alex already loves you, but he wouldn't understand yet what it would mean to be adopted. Sorry. I'm babbling. Mommy brain.

[She bites her lip momentarily]
Um, for the record... This baby won't be like Alex. He or she will be more like the others.

[mr-bes.insanejournal.com]

[That seems to derail whatever thought he had been crafting in regards to Alex and he blinks.]

... So what you're saying is that you think mini-us will be going to college before his big brother graduates middle school? It's okay. It doesn't matter. All of our kids will be precious, are precious. Alex, this one... It'll be okay, sweetheart. I'll never leave you or them. Never.

[roseredheart.insanejournal.com]

I know, honey, I know.

Though... that does beg the question... How are we going to arrange this, being on opposite coasts and all?

[mr-bes.insanejournal.com]

Luckily, there's elementary schools all over the country. Even in Washington.

[roseredheart.insanejournal.com]

Oh, sweetie... You'd move out here? But, what about your kids? And the club? They need you.

[mr-bes.insanejournal.com]

Well... I'll miss them. A lot. They're my kids. I'll miss Ivy and Anthony and Meri, too. I'll miss them a lot. But you're out west and so is Alex and our child and I want to be with you all. I can't stay on one coast while you're all on the other one.

[roseredheart.insanejournal.com]

I know, but... what if we came to you? I mean, I don't have a career here. My credits would transfer if I decided to finish my degree. Of course... I don't know how Mel would take it. Apollo'd be sad if I left.

[mr-bes.insanejournal.com]

[He's quiet for a moment, searching her face.]

If you want to talk to them, okay. But I'll move out to you if that's what we need to do.

[roseredheart.insanejournal.com]

We've got some time to figure it out. I probably won't be due until sometime next March or April.

[mr-bes.insanejournal.com]

We do... But I'd want to decide before then. You know. If I'm moving, I'd like to start the school year right with the kids. So... How do we want to tell people? Do we want to tell them yet?