Chapter 13: Venit (It Comes)

Venit

[June POV]

"Tulip?"

"No."

"Clarissa?"

"No."

"Petunia?"
"No. These are all horrible."

"Okay... Kinna?"

"No."

"Poppy?"

"No."

"Serephine?"

"It's okay."

Day draws a highlighter across the book, "Awesome."

"Day, what if it's a boy?"

"I have a whole 'nother book for that." 

I laugh and nod, "Go on then." 

Day's beautiful smile appears. "Fiona?"

"No."

"Summer?"

"I like it alright."

"Nessa?"

"That one! I love it. What does it mean?"

"'Ambitious, fierce.'"

"Perfect."

"You're gonna raise a little fighter, aren't you?"

"That's right."

Our reverie is interrupted by a calm beep, beep, beep. "Op!" Day yells, standing up and accidentally dumping the name book in his lap, "That would be the pot roast." He sprints into the kitchen, his cat-like grace evident even now. To myself, I chuckle. Daniel has become quite the homemaker. With how much he hates his job, I'm wondering if he's going to end up being a stay-at-home father.

I glance at the calendar across the room, the sound of Day's footsteps around the kitchen lulling me into a sleepy state. Of course, that's about all I do lately; sleep and eat, what with the baby due in just two weeks. As for me, I'm freaking out about being a mother. A mother? That doesn't sound like me. I can't cook, I hate cleaning, I'm better with a gun then a picture book... I'm worried I'm going to raise a child who doesn't know how to feel or love. Of course, I have Daniel for that. If Day had it his way, our child would be bubble-wrapped and coddled all the time. My way is basically to let the child find its own way and pick it up when it falls. 

I'm pondering early-learning tactics when a pain like lightning shoots across my stomach. I cry out, "Ah!" Frankly, it's less from the pain and more from the panic. "Daniel!" I yell, and hear pounding footsteps follow. Day appears in front of me, "What is it?" I breathe deep, trying to quell the fire in my abdomen, "The baby," I tell Daniel, "it's coming."

-=+=-

[Daniel POV]

I wring my hands as I await being allowed behind the curtain. I hope she's okay.. I hope it's okay. Suddenly a Republic doctor clad in gold colored scrubs yanks the curtain back. He smiles at me and motions for me to come. I step in and see June sitting up, looking at me. She smiles genuinely, however weakly. My first priority is her. I walk over and run my hair through her hair.

"You okay, cousin?" I inquire gently. She nods and grins, then motions with her chin to something behind me. I turn around to see the same doctor holding a wad in a blue blanket. My mind takes a minute to connect the wriggling, wrapped figure and what we're here for. The baby. The baby!

The doctor gives a white-toothed smile and says "It's a boy!"

"A boy..." I repeat, waiting for the information to sink in. Suddenly, it does, "I HAVE A SON!" I yell aloud. The nurses in the Ruby sector hospital turn around, startled by my outburst. The doctor hands over the baby. I clutch him like my life depends on it. I don't even know what... I just... I... I glanced at June and then offer the baby to her. She takes him and coos to him, already very natural with him.

June looks up at me, "I think I know what to name him."

"What?" I reply, my curiosity peaked. "We didn't get to the boy-names book."

With a feeble laugh, June replies, "John."

"John?" My eyes well up, what am I doing? I'm happy- why am I crying? I will not cry. 

"Do you like it?"

"I love it!" I smile at our baby, "John Metias Iparis-Wing." I laugh, joy welling in my stomach like a balloon. June smiles faintly, "And he even has your eyes."