"Do you actually want to do this?" Skye Everard asked on the other end. "You don't have to do this just because of Ruby-"
"I made the decision Skye." I replied, cutting her off. "That's that."
"Jeez, you sound like Ruby." Skye muttered. "Alright, if that's what you want..."
There was a muffled sound in the background, then Paisley's voice. "Skye, give me the phone."
"Hang on, I'm almost done-"
More scuffling, a yell of protest, then Paisley's voice.
"Amelia, are you sure? Your gonna raise 100 kids..."
"Yes, I'm sure!" I snapped. "I made the decision a few weeks ago and got the house renovated, I'm not baking out now!"
I was being a lot harsher than I needed to, but I had already endured the same thing from my cousins and I was getting slightly fed up with the lack of support that I was getting. Ruby had been gone several months now and it was time to start over.
There was a yell from Paisley, followed by Skye protesting, "I wasn't done!" I sighed, rubbing my eyes.
"If your actually serious about this-" Skye.
"I am!" I yelled, exasperated.
"Calm down. If your actually serious about this, I can call up some challenge fathers and see if any of them are interested."
"Thanks Skye." I replied, a smile spreading on my face.
"Just call us if you need anything okay?" Paisley said.
"Will do."
The moment I hung up, the uncertainty began to fill me. I had been so sure a few moments ago, but now I was doubting. Could I actually raise 100 kids? Ruby had only gotten to 15 before she got up and left. Would I do the same thing?
"Listen here." I thought. "You are Amelia Falls.You can do this."
That didn't really help my confidence much, but I wasn't that great at motivational speeches.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. Expecting the voice to be Skye again, I picked it up, only to be greeted by a different voice.
"Hello? Is this Amelia Falls?"
Well, that was fast.
"Yeah." I replied, trying to let my tone sound relaxed, but it came out sharp instead. I winced. "Sorry."
He ignored me. "I heard you are a new challenge mother?"
"Mhm."
"I'm Rainbow Cleffer. I'm in Twinbrook for a while and I was wondering if you were interested in me being your first father."
"Sure!" The words flew out of my mouth before I registered what I had just said. Well, it was too late to take it back now.
"Great!"
He gave me the address and hung up, a happy tone in his voice. I however, was filled again with worry. It was too late to go back now. Bracing myself, I headed to the address he had given me.
Rainbow was in multiple challenges before mine, including Amber Lights'. That would mean that my new child would have multiple half siblings besides the ones I would birth.
The entire experience was... interesting to say the least. Before I had time to react, the deed was done and I was pregnant with my first child. There wasn't any time to doubt what I was doing, I was now pregnant.
The first thing I did when I left his house was to stop at the Bistro for some cooking lessons. The chef kept saying I was a natural at it, but I barely managed to avoid burning the food. I came out with a small bit a knowledge about cooking and a waffle bit in my stomach.
Four more classes after that, I arrived home dead tired. There wasn't time to rest though, I hadn't eaten anything for dinner. So I set to work cooking some macaroni, despite the nauseous feeling that had been bugging me for the past hour.
I had just set the bowl down when the nausea finally overcame me. I raced to the bathroom, just in time to throw up everything I had eaten into the toilet. I must have stayed there for a good five minutes, making sure nothing else was going to come up. a bitter taste was in my mouth as I got up. How was I going to deal with this every time I got pregnant?
My sleep was interrupted by another bout of nausea, but otherwise, I slept well. I started the morning with another mad dash to the toilet and was feeling nauseous again halfway through breakfast. The entire pregnancy so far had just made me nauseous. It would all be worth it in the end, according to Paisley.
After another bout of vomit, I threw on a cute maternity dress and headed to the bookstore to buy some pregnancy books, despite my nauseousness. I bought two books before heading out to the pool for some relaxation time.
On the way there, my bump finally made an appearance. Smiling, I rubbed my belly, feeling the stirrings of new life. Hopefully, this would mean the end of my crazy nausea.
The cool water of the pool was quite soothing. I swam around a bit, stretching out my muscles. It felt good to be out and about, instead of sitting around doing nothing.
The only thing that dampened the mood was the amount of people looking at me. I was a newcomer, only arriving a few days before. Most people just took a glance and continued what they were doing, but there was a small bunch was whispering and staring.
"Who's that?"
"She just moved in down my street. Her name's Amelia Falls, I think."
"Falls? Is she related to Ruby Falls?"
"Can't be, they don't look alike."
"Who on earth is Ruby Falls?"
"That 100 baby challenge mom that took off a few months back? It was in the papers."
"Maybe it was big news over in Sunset Valley. I haven't heard of her."
Irritated, I climbed out of the pool and pulled my dress on over my bathing suit. There wasn't any point in confronting them, it was better to leave.
Of course, I didn't miss the remark on how I looked pregnant.
The only thing that was preventing me from kicking something was the text I got from Skye a few moments later, telling me to come to the Performance Park. I hailed a taxi and headed to the area to see my two friends sitting at a table together.
"Hey guys!" I called, making my way over.
They both stopped whatever conversation they were having and turned to me, their faces lighting up in a grin. "Amelia!" Skye yelled. "Come heather."
"I think it's hither." I said, sitting down.
"Whatever."
"Anyway, what brings you guys out here?" I asked.
"Emotional support." Skye said breezily.
"Teaching you the ways of the challenge moms." Paisley added.
"So basically, you two are my pregnancy support team?"
"Yup."
"Pretty much."
I chatted with them for about an hour before I decided to head home to start dinner. The two both promised to visit tomorrow to insure that I wouldn't be consumed by boredom or something of that nature. I hailed another cab and headed home with a smile on my face.
My bump is slightly bigger when I wake up the next morning, but not that noticeable in the giant maternity dresses that I'm wearing. Still, the bigger bump sends more worry through me. Can I actually be a good mom?
I have to push those thoughts away for now, I have to make breakfast. Still, the thoughts linger in my brain and refuse to move.
It's a relief when Skye and Paisley come over at around ten. Paisley suggests we all go on the trampoline and before anyone came respond, she's already heading over to it. Skye and I laugh at her eagerness and start up a conversation.
"How's the little baby?" Skye asked with a smirk.
"Good right now. It was a nausea monsters at the start though."
"Oh, that's always fun. Have fun dong that at least 99 more times."
"Thanks." I said sarcastically.
We leave Paisley to her bouncing and turn on the TV and watch an episode of Supernatural. Skye had already seen it, but I was still quite early in the show. Sam and Dean fight monsters onscreen as Skye and I sit on the couch and idly chat. Paisley joins us about halfway into the show and start up another episode on Netflix when it's over.
The two lose interest after a while and take it upon themselves to clean my house, although there's hardly anything dirty. So I sit on my butt and do nothing while the two of them rush around the house, sponges and brushes in hand. I eventually convince them to sit down and we watch another episode.
None of us really feel like cooking, so I pull out some mac and cheese from last night and we eat that. The macaroni didn't chill well and had an odd aftertaste, but it was better than nothing. Skye suggested we order pizza, but Paisley pointed out that it would take too long. So, macaroni it was.
after that, we settle back around the TV and watch an episode of Sherlock at my insistence before the two of them leave around nine. Then it's a shower and straight into bed.
My nervousness grows when I wake up the next morning. My stomach has swelled to the size of a watermelon overnight. In a nervous panic, I call Paisley, who isn't all that happy to be woken up so early, but she reassures me nonetheless after I promise to never call her at 5:00 AM ever again.
I eat my cereal in a flurry, half expecting the baby to come any minute. I try and watch TV to get my mind off of the new arrival, but I'm so jittery that I can barely concentrate on the show. There's nothing else to do, so I sit on the couch and grow more nervous with each passing second.
In fact, when the contractions do come, I'm so busy panicking that I barely even notice for the first few seconds. Finally the pain registers in my mind and I scramble off the couch. I hastily grab my phone and call up a taxi to take me to the hospital, along with frantic calls to Skye and Paisley.
There's no time to be nervous now, there's a baby on the way. I'm too busy pushing and gasping for breath to worry about being a good mom. After two hours of labor, I walk out of the hospital with my first child.
Lydia Falls.
