Back to Basics- Baby 50

It was like a breath of fresh air. Everything was perfect for once. Little Ellie was learning to walk. Big Ellie was sunbathing by the side of the pool. Apple and Watson were having a blast. And I was happy. 

"Come on Ellie. Come to momma." I beckoned for her to come to me. Learning to walk was a hard business, especially when your mother had been distant for so long. I'm sorry Ellie. I thought. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked around. Eloise was stood there smiling. "Let me take her" she said, and crouched down next to me and started calling to Ellie to come to her. And as she stood there, the sunlight glistening in her eyes, something someone said to me long ago came back to me, You don't love someone because they're beautiful. They're beautiful because you love them. And it was true. For the first time in my life. 

I snapped out of my musings and ran over to Watson and Apple. "Momma!" came the excited cries, as Watson jumped into my arms. "Momma, can we play in the slip 'n slide?" he asked. I looked at him like he was mad for a few seconds as his face fell then I said, "Sure kid. Whatever you want to do."  I walked around him and turned on the water jets for the slide before running to the end and sliding down. "Can't catch me!" I yelled, and Watson followed suit, chasing me. The game quickly formed into a kind of tag, whereby we pushed the other into the sprinkler or slip and slide once we caught them. 

In the mid-day heat I quickly tired however, and went to sit down in the shade. Ellie and Eloise walked over to me and grinned. "I got her walking." she said. As if to prove it, Ellie got up and walked up to the table with the snacks on it, pouting and pointing at the food. She was clearly my daughter. 

I got up, and walked over to my little girl, lifting her up. "Okay, little one. What do you want?" she pondered for a minute, then pointed at a bowl of candy. Typical child. "Okay, just one though." she grinned, and shoved it in her mouth, sucking on it for a good minute before she spat it out saying, "Yak." I sigh and bend down to pick up the soggy candy. "Kids will be kids, hey?" says a familiar voice. I turn around slowly and see Paisley and Jesse stood behind me. A very pregnant Paisley. "Hey. You starting the challenge back up?" I ask, nervously. "Mmmhmmm." she replies, rubbing the bump. "And let me guess who the father is." I answer. Paisley and Jesse glance at each-other, and I realise that they must have been... busy. "Surprise?" Jesse offers. 

I sit down. "But... but I'm not ready to be a Grandma." Jesse looks at me, "But momma, you're already a grandma."
"I KNOW! But not to my best friend and son's child." Paisley sat next to me and put an arm around me, quickly joined by Ellie on the other side. There was so many emotions flicking through my brain right now it was impossible to tell what. Joy quickly turned to excitement, which morphed into worry followed by disappointment. As if reflecting my mood, a large drop of rain fell from the sky, which only minutes earlier had been clear as.... something clear. I looked around as the rain started falling faster. It didn't look like a summer shower at all. "WATSON! Come inside dear." I yelled, and started towards the back door. Paisley quickly followed, covered by Jesse, and both Ellie's came through the door, one carrying the other. Once inside everyone looked around for something to do, when I remembered the fire in the middle of the sitting room. "Come on then everyone." I said, and walked towards the fire, gesturing for everyone to follow.

Silently I picked up a log and tossed it on top of the small pile of kindling, before grabbing a box of matches from the mantelpiece and lighting the fire. Quickly, I curled up in the nearest armchair, and waited for everyone to join me. They sat down, and I said, "Well, this is cosy." The lights went out with he first rumble of thunder about a minute later, and I knew that TV was now out of the question. I looked around for something to do, seeing nothing. Out of the blue, Paisley said, "Skye... why don't you tell us about your kids! The ones from the challenge, and all that." I think for a minute, and say "Okay."

---

“AARGH! Why did I ever sign up to this!?” I yelled, feeling the pain of labour for the first time. This was a feeling I did not want to repeat. As the searing pains powered through me again, something felt different. The baby was coming. I tried to find somewhere comfortable to give birth to my first child. Easier said than done. Not much later, I gave birth to a healthy little boy, who I named Ryn.
Soon after my baby boy was a bouncing toddler, who was getting up to all kinds of mischief. If I left to do the laundry, he’d end up in the washing basket pretending he was clothes.
By the time he was a child I’d had baby two, another little darling who I named James. James had his father’s hair and my looks. With beautiful green eyes. I knew he was a special baby.
Of course, then came Gabriel. He had such pale green skin. He looked like a leaf, but I loved him. I love all my children. Gabriel ended up being almost impossible to control, and he was always very rebellious. I had lots of trouble with him from his school.

Then came my first girls. Sonny and Snow. It was ironic, because they were also my first twins. They looked the same, but in personality they were polar opposites. Sonny was always more outgoing, and Snow more introverted, but they both loved each-other. They stayed close to me, one moving to the house next door, and the other moving across the street.

Of course, what followed seemed like a sudden burst of girls. I had Summer. She was such a lovely toddler, but I didn’t see very much of her because I had lots of trouble with her older sisters. I remember that she looked a lot like me, and she was my first vampire child. I was always amazed at how fast she gained skills.
My memory isn’t perfect after all these years, but I’d had about 9 babies. Ryn, James, Gabriel, Sonny, Snow, Spring, Summer, Amethyst and Autumn. Amy and Autumn were twins, male and female. They couldn’t have been more different. Amy ended up having a child as a teenager, and Autumn went on to a steady relationship with a vampire called Abigail, they had several stillborn children and they were devastated.
After that I had France and November. I named them after Della’s children, and I loved them so much. I hadn’t been able to post about the pregnancy, because I’d been on strict bed rest after an illness. ‘Vember was always very quiet, and I loved him for it. I’d never find him getting into trouble. France was the opposite. He was rowdy, and I couldn’t control him. Eventually, after he moved out he cleaned up his act, it was for a girl. The same girl broke his heart, but she changed him for the better.”

---

“Really momma? Did that all happen?” said Watson, incredulously. I nodded, and Apple got up. “I’ll be right back, I need to pee.” she said. Paisley followed suit, and I sent her off to my en-suite bathroom where she could have a bit of privacy. I got a text in this interval and had to excuse myself. It was the next father I was expecting. His name was Rellik. He was very odd. And he had some awesome genetics.

We got the deed done quickly and simply, now I’m with Ellie I don’t see much point in doing it traditionally, so I operate on a sperm donor basis for now. It’s much easier, and it allowed for me to return home before anyone noticed I’d been gone too long.

I returned to a teenaged Watson and Apple as a young adult. Apparently, they’d asked Ellie, and Ellie had told them that we were going to be holding a party for them later, except, that had gone down the drain with the storm. Seeing as they seemed relatively interested I resumed my tale of the challenge so far.

---

"Baby 18 was one of my least favourites. I’d just had triplets, and they were all very forgetful. Especially as children. Rose, the only girl of the set had come back because she’s forgotten her homework, and just HAD to see me… ahem. Conceiving… the next child. His name was Eragon, and he was adorable. But for his birthday, we had a fire.  I remember Ben the other of the triplets ended up marrying our Maid, Maxine. They went on to have 2 kids. And Eragon stayed single.
After that I had the triplets, Felicity, Grace and Fallyn. They were all so different it was surprising. I got to know each of them. And I was pleased that they all ended up very successful.
Then I had Xavier. He was a really unusual child. Purple all over, and he had a giant nose. It was amazing. I never really understood why he was so happy. Most children like that are really sad about their face nowadays.
After him I had Bryan and Einar. Einar had a tumour on his face, and it was restricting his breathing. They had to surgically remove it, and he was unfortunately left with scarring that pained him forever. Brayan had the remarkable ability to seduce most of his class, and this ended up  with him getting his girlfriend pregnant. I was really annoyed about that, and I ended up kicking them out not long after I discovered it in a fit of rage.

Then on a trip to China I made Odette, Cosette and Collette. They were all so different. But they all looked very much like their father. Odette had the same colour hair as his wig, and I have NO idea why, but she eventually got it dyed to a pink colour. Cosette had my hair. She was a vampire, getting turned one night after work. Collette had white and blue hair, which was beautiful. She probably looked the most oriental out of the three as well.
I’d been on a triplet surge at that time, and so it was to be expected that my next few children would be triplets too. I had Darby, Jude and Skylar. Darby was the only girl, and she spent most of her time alone. I remember that Jude and Skylar didn’t get along very well, they were continually fighting about everything, but eventually I found out why and sorted the problem.
Then I had Solange. She was a beautiful yellow-y colour, and very happy. It really was hard with her though. Her father decided that she belonged to him, and I did too. It was a real nightmare.
After that…. you’d have met everyone. They’re all still here.”

---

Yes. I had gotten tired of talking, but in my defence there was a storm. I looked around for something more interesting to do. Walking to the cooker I checked that it still worked okay. “Right everyone, what are we having for dinner?”
"Hot dogs?" asked Apple. I sighed. Apple ALWAYS said Hot dogs. Unfortunately, after checking the cupboards, what I found was a loaf of bread, a can of soup, and 3 cans of hot dogs. It was grocery day today, but that had been put on hold with the storm. The grocery store had shut down, since it was at risk of flooding. I got down from the chair with the cans of hot dogs and put them on the hob to cook. Jesse got up to cook them for me, while I returned to my bedroom for a well deserved rest. I leant my hand on the window and let myself sigh. I heard the door open and shut behind me and I turned around, expecting Apple or Watson to be there telling me dinner was done. Instead I saw Paisley and Ellie.

Ellie pulled me into her arms and Paisley stood around awkwardly. "It's okay. You're just hormonal." she said. It was true. I had no reason to be sad. Or did I? I had had 49 children, and all of them had come and gone in what felt like the blink of an eye. Was this what the rest of my life was going to be about? I sniffed, and freed myself of Ellie's arms. I hugged Paisley before walking out of the room and returning to the stove. Leaning around Jesse is stick a fork in and prod a hot-dog. They look like they're done, so I grab the rolls out of the freezer and stick them in the microwave to defrost. I sit on the counter and wait for them to finish, but the smell gets to me and I rush off to vomit before I can eat anything. Leaning on the toilet bowl for support I puke up the little breakfast I have left in my. To get rid of the bad taste I brush my teeth, and then leave the bathroom. This time I manage to finish my hot-dogs before anything else happens. I check my watch and see it is time for the younglings to go to bed. Apple stayed up with me, Eloise, Paisley and Jessie to watch Titanic. But apparently, she couldn't handle all the 'Kissy-noises' and left to sleep and pack up her things. As long as the power stayed on, and the rain let up overnight, we should be fine. I say should be, because really, I'm tempting fate here. With the film finished Eloise and I went to bed, and Paisley and Jesse were to remain on the couch. There'll be no funny business going on this way.

Yes. I AM talking about drug dealing.

I woke up. The rain had dwindled to a soft pitter patter and the sun was creeping slowly up the horizon. I watched it for a while before slipping off for a shower. The water was cool on my burning skin, and I realised what had woken me up. Overnight my baby appeared to have grow exponentially. I looked like I was in my third trimester. And I felt like I was about to pop. Walking into the living room it seems I wasn't the only person up and ready for the day. Jesse and Paisley were just making themselves presentable when I walked in. "Where do you two think you're sneaking off to?" I ask; startling them. Both jump and turn to face me. "We were heading home. We only live across the street, and the rain has all but stopped and- why the HECK are you in third already!?" says Paisley. I shrug my shoulders because I really don't know. "I'm going to the hosiptal to get it checked out today. Don't worry." I work on getting myself some breakfast, and my primary concern is giving the baby everything it needs. After growing quite so much, I was sure there would have to have been at least a slight problem with it's weight, or at least it would need some food.

I arrived at the hospital with Watson in tow. He had decided that he wanted to come, and I was getting to give him a free driving lesson with it all. As I opened the door to the hospital the receptionist looked up, before ignoring me and looking back down again. Now, there is one thing most hospital staff know about me, and that is that when I am pregnant I get angry very quickly. And this woman made me furious for some reason. I don't know of it was her stupid make-up, or the terrible hair but I wanted to PUNCH her. "Hey. I'm here for my appointment with Dr Fox." I said. WHAT!? I may have been furious, but that doesn't mean I can't show manners in front of my  son. "Excuse us. My mother is hear for her appointment." says Watson. Hmm. Seems he inherited my temper. While the receptionist ignores us, the doctor seems to have extremely good timing, and comes out of his office after finishing with a patient, just as we move to leave. "Ms Everard? It's time for your appointment." he says.

I follow him into the office and he shuts the door behind us. I let him examine the baby with no worries, until he gets out a stethoscope and places it on my belly. I laugh hysterically when the cold metal touches my skin, because for some reason medical equipment makes me ticklish. "Well Ms Everard. The baby seems okay, but I would like to deliver it here via caesarean section. It seems a little small. So a couple of hours later, I hold my new baby girl; Demi.

To my dearest readers. Thank you so much for being with me all this time. I can't believe any of you are still here. It's taken me just over a year to get to half way, and most of those posts are rubbish anyway. It's been an amazing journey, one I hope I will complete.


I have a few very special thank you's. The first- Ms Della Wriner 


She inspired me to start this challenge when I first read her blog (which I recently discovered I actually read from the very beginning).
Next- Amber Lights. 


This is a very strange one. Since I never really talked to Amber. But I read her blogs. And let me tell you, they are good. I used want to be a better writer. Amber's blogs have showed me how. So thank you, Ms Lights. 


Paisley, Cailsta and Destiny


Paisley.... you all know about my friendship with her (I think) she's a very special person to me, who doesn;t get enough credit for that. I really owe you a lot Shanks! Calista- she was one of the first blogs I read. I loved all the.... blue! She was so beautiful, and she was another great inspiration for me. Destiny- I just love you. 


This has been a great moment for me. Half way. 50. Just double this, and I'll be done. It;s such a strange feeling, so.... thank you everyone. You made this possible!


PS: Comment if you read. They mean a bundle to me. 

Up To Speed- After baby 49

Big mistake.

That was the phrase running through my head as I leant back from the kiss.

Big mistake. I had a feeling she'd never forgive me for this. Things would never be the same again. I felt a hand on my arm and the tear that followed it.

"I'm sorry Paisley" it was all I could say before I left. "I truly am." I whispered that to myself as I left. Yes. Things will never be the same again.

I arrived home on autopilot and started taking care of everyone. The baby needed feeding, Watson needed a hand with something, and Apple was nowhere to be seen. I wondered where to start.

Of course she would walk through the door behind me. "Apple, honey. Where were you?" I asked. She raised her eyebrows questioningly. "Mom, I was looking for you. You just VANISHED! Mothers don't do that to people." I hung my head. It was like she was the mother and I was the child. "I'm sorry sweetie. There was a lot going on in my head. I had some things to sort out." she grinned at me. A sly kind of smile that made you want to giggle. "Mom, I was kidding. Okay." I laughed at my own stupidity. Everything recently had me so on edge, stupid, I know.

Eloise came running around the corner straight into a kiss. I melted into her and completely forgot about our surroundings. I heard a gasp from Apple and Watson came thundering downstairs. If Ellie Jr could walk, I'm pretty sure she'd have followed. I turned around and realised. I'd not exactly... told the kids about me and Eloise. This was a bit of a shock to them. I sunk to the floor, crying, and prayed they wouldn't leave. Apple glared at me then stormed off to her room, and Watson was torn between me and his sister. Apple and Ellie won. He left to comfort his sister.

Of course it can't get any worse. That's what everyone says, isn't it. Well it can. it ALWAYS can. My best friend had to walk through the door at that very moment. She had to hear the slamming door, she had to see her cousin comforting me. But worst of all, she had to see me like this.

Apple's Point Of View

I could hear Mum and Aunt Paisley downstairs with Eloise. I don't know what to call her now. Is it Aunt Ellie, or Eloise or Mum. I don't know. I just found out my mother is a lesbian. How does that even work anyway? 

I could hear my mother sobbing and Eloise comforting her. Aunt Paisley was speaking but I couldn't quite hear what she was saying. All I knew is she didn't sound very happy. I walked over to the vent on the floor and put my ear to it. You could hear almost anything going on downstairs. 

"Paisley," I heard my mother say in between sobs. "I-I'm sorry."

"I know," Aunt Paisley said so quietly it almost wasn't audible. "But... why did you do it?"

"I needed to see..." My mother's voice trailed off.

"See what?" Paisley said, much louder this time. "See if your best friend is a--"

"What is going on?" Eloise exclaimed, interrupting her. "Skye?" When my mom didn't reply, I heard Eloise's voice directed at Paisley. "Pais?" 

She didn't reply either. Oh dear. This didn't sound good. "TELL ME SKYE! Do you love me?"

Watson came into my room, Ellie crawling behind. "Apple?" he asked, sitting on my bed. "Why is your ear pressed up against the vent?"

"I don't think I need to answer that, Wat," I replied, trying to make out the quiet sounds from the other side of the vent.

"What are they talking about?" 

I sighed. Did he even understand what was going on?

"Why was mom kissing a girl?" he asked innocently. That was my question. 

I sat up and explained everything to him. The part that needed the most explaining was lesbianism. That was fun. -_- 

"So... is that why Erik has stopped coming around?" 

"Yep."

"And why Eloise is always around?"

"Yep."

"But why is Aunt Paisley never around?"

I raised my brow. "I have no idea." 

What I did know is that things were beginning to get weird. My mom was apparently a lesbian, I gathered she kissed her best friend or something of that nature, and now the three women were having a conversation that didn't sound pleasant. Oh no...

Skye's Point of View

"You... kissed her?" Ellie asked sadly.

"Yes but it meant nothing!" I cried.

"If it meant nothing why did you kiss her?" she demanded.

Paisley got up to leave from her place leaning n my counter, but Ellie grabbed her wrist. "Ell, let me go," she begged.

"No. Did it mean something to you, Paisley?"

She looked at me, her dark green eyes holding no emotion. "No. Trust me when I say, I would have rather stayed away from kissing my best friend, but she apparently had other ideas."

Eloise sat my best friend and turned her attention back to me. "Skye, I'm willing to forgive you if..."

"If what?" I urged.

"If you stop seeing Paisley."

Her words literally cut me, or at least it felt like it. Paisley was then in tears and I could see a screaming match between these two cousins starting.

"Ellie, please," Paisley started. "I know how you are when you're angry. You... you're not the same. You're going to regret this when you cool off--"

"How do you know what I'm going to regret?" Ellie nearly screamed, her purple eyes flashing with rage. "You have always pretended to know what's best for me, but you don't! And then you go and steal my girlfriend!"

My best friend's emotionless eyes were suddenly very angry. "I did NOT steal her! She kissed ME! And she WON'T stop seeing me because we aren't together, we're friends! Best friends and nothing will ever change that! Ellie, you know that I lost Anna-Leigh and if I were to lose Skye too..."

"Oh yes..." Ellie said, lost in thought. "I forgot that she died..."

"You also know that I was kidnapped and almost murdered and I seriously need Skye right now."

Ellie got up and walked over to her cousin. She sat on the couch and wrapped her arms around her. "I'm sorry Paisley, but that doesn't change my mind."

Paisley pushed her off and ran out the door. "Paisley, wait!" I called, jumping from my seat to run after her but Ellie grabbed onto my leg.

"Is this what Paisley was talking about?" I asked. "That you're violent and possessive when you're angry?"

"I guess so, yes."

Watson came into the room and we both shut up. "What's going on?" he asked.

I could see he was trembling. Probably afraid of all the screaming. I shook Ellie's hand off of me and brought Watson back upstairs so I could comfort him. I explained everything to Apple and calmed down Watson. I asked Apple to go down to see what Ellie was doing, but apparently Ellie had gone.

"Where did she go?" my daughter asked me, handing me some coffee.

"I have no idea." Two days went by and there was no word from either Ellie or Paisley. Jesse called and said that she had locked herself in her room and wouldn't let anyone in. She refused to talk about it so I clued him in on my own.

"Oh," was his dumbfounded reply. "So... you're gay?"

"Really?" I asked. "That's all you gathered from that?"

I heard him chuckle.

"I'm bi you twerp."

We both hung up.

I decided to let Ellie go, even though that was going to be hard. To get my mind off of her, I hung out with the kids. Everything was going smoothly and I was pretending that I wasn't hurting, when Ellie barged through the door at around midnight. Her hair was... different and she was smudged. That's the easiest way to describe it.

It immediately reeked of alcohol and her words were slurred. I brought her to our room and laid her down on the bed. "Are you alright?" I asked, tucking her in, she yawned, stretching her arms up and lay down before she nodded and instantly fell asleep curled at the bottom of our bed. I walk around to my side and lie down near her.

The next morning I walked out of our room to see Ellie sober and cooking breakfast for Apple and Watson. "Good morning!" she sang happily. "I see you're finally up!"

"What was that last night?" I asked, taking a seat next to the kids. "And will it ever happen again?"

She smiled crookedly. "Yeah, sorry about that. No, it won't happen again... And I'm sorry, really, I have no right to tell you to stop seeing Paisley. I know how much you mean to each other."

I got up from my place and kissed her. "Thank you," I said. "Now you just need to make up with Paisley and everything will be fine."

After breakfast, I sent her out the door to go to her cousin's house.

Ellie's Point of View

The drive to Paisley's house seemed to drag on forever, but I knew I had to do this. "Gosh, she honestly had to pick the house the farthest away from the town?" I mumbled to myself as I looked at the paper that had her address written on it. 

When I finally made it to her house, I was rethinking the whole thing, but Jesse saw me and forced me inside. "You must be Ellie," he said as he nearly dragged me.

"What gave it away? The pink hair or the purple eyes?"
"The slight French accent you still have. I'm Jesse." he said. Extending a hand.

He laughed and sat me on their couch. Everything looked so nice. There were pictures lining the common area of her house. Pictures of her and my other cousins, Cassie and Chase. My Aunt Susan and Uncle Trent hugging her tightly. The one that caught my eye was one with her and I in the photo booth when she was about nine and I was about four. Before her father faked his death.

One picture that made me smile was she and my father, Jude. I missed him so much. After my dad died the Parker family wasn't the same. I wouldn't know every little detail since my mother gave me her last name and she separated me from the family, but I still knew most things.

Paisley walked out of her kitchen, looking much happier and more put together than the last time I saw her. I leaped off the couch and wrapped my arms around her. "I'm sorry," I said, not letting go.

"I know," she replied. "It's alright." And a single tear drifted down our cheeks, to pool on our hands. 

Yes. It was all right.