2.9 The Miracle Of Life

A few days later, I was already allowed to take my wife and our daughter, Willow Star, home. The labor had been dreadful, for me and for Ivy, and I was glad that was over. Now we had a beautiful baby who we wanted to take care of as much as possible. She probably was the most gorgeous baby girl I had ever seen, even though she had an intense stare. Like she is going to control our minds or something. But surely our daughter is not that insane – nobody could ever control my mind. That’s mine to control, and I alone will control it.

Can you say “paranoid”?

As soon as we put her into her beautiful crib for her first sleep at home, we decided it was time to do it. Right here, right now.

Do…what? I can just pray that you don’t mean “do it” like I understand it. You can’t! In front of your daughter? She is going to be scarred for life! Oo

Can you say “stupid thought”? I didn’t mean that, of course! No, it was time to get finally get married. Now that we were a real family.

Oh. Good. Oh, wait – awwwwwww! :)

Since it was late at night by now, we decided to get into the whole wedding night thing right away.

See? I knew it. I knew it! Stay away from the baby’s room!

I can’t help but notice that this was quick. :P

Well, good things come to those who don’t fuss around for hours. Anyway. Being married meant being happy to me. I had an amazing wife, and a beautiful daughter. It was hard to still focus on my job, because all I wanted to do was staying home with my family. But my boss told me that I had to come to work every day, unless I wanted to get fired. And that was not what I wanted.

Ivy took great care of Willow when I was not at home. Our little girl somehow managed to make a big mess out of her room every single day, even when she was only in her crib! Incredible. The things I could learn from her! The maximum of chaos with a minimum of effort. I think it’s safe to say that my daughter is pretty much a slob already.

To compensate my absence, I volunteered to keep the house clean every now and then. Well, every once in a while. Well, occasionally. Well, sometimes. Well, once, to be honest. But only because Ivy did it most of the time, and was pretty good at it! Every time I tried to clean something, I usually ended up breaking it. Or making a bigger mess than before. I am definitely related to my daughter.

You can’t escape the genes…

Ivy really was lovely with our little daughter. She played with her, cuddled her and assured her how much we both loved her whenever I was not around. Willow was the center of our attention, always. I tried to stop by the neonatal ward as soon as possible, comparing the babies to ours. Ours was the prettiest. Easily.

One night, when I got home from a long day at work, Ivy told me it was or daughter’s birthday the next week, and asked whether I had already thought of presents. I was in shock. Willow was growing up already? How could that happen? She had just been born!

 That night, I stood on her crib and cuddled her for at least an hour, while she slowly drifted to sleep. She was so warm and…small! There was no way she could be a toddler soon. I wanted her to stay as tiny as this forever, because this way I could protect her from all the bad in the world. Nobody was ever going to hurt my baby.

Too soon it was her actual birthday. I managed to convince Ivy that it should be me who blew out the candles with her, because I had spent less time with her so far. She reluctantly agreed, and so I stood there in front of our counter, blowing out the candles with Willow in my arm, helping a little, and thought of all the things that had been happening so far, realizing that this was the best life I could possibly lead. And even though I forgot to breathe in again, because I was so caught in emotions, 

which almost made me faint, this was one of the greatest days in my life.

Author's Notes: Welcome, Generation Three <3 I've decided to go for a randomized generation when it comes to the traits. And Willow rolled Slob and Insane. That is going to be fun later. :D

In addition, I've decided not to choose the TV series/movies that feature the new children's names alphabetically, because I am dying to use some names I would have to wait ages for.... Since it's not too long since I decided this, Gen 3 will still be named after a TV series/movie starting with B. Guesses, anybody?

2.8 The luckiest man in the world

Yeah, right, I’m so glad they can’t watch us all the time…… oh, hi! You’re back already… I didn’t notice. So, where did we stop? Right, I was just showing you our sweet new house. This is where I was living with my girlfriend now. I liked that thought.

It didn’t take us very long to settle in, since not that much had changed. Sure, the house was bigger, we had new furniture and only half of the house was green – the other half was purple, Ivy’s favorite color –, yet it was her and me living together. And that was what counted.

Jeez, who are you and what have you done with Alfie? It’s sweet that you’re in love, but please stop talking like you’re in a romance novel. 

I won’t. Our first night as a couple was kind of interrupted, unfortunately.  

Ivy, how are you feeling?

Bleuuurgh.

Okay, I’ll wait for you in bed. What do you think is wrong with her? Should I be worried?

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with her. And you shouldn’t be worried. You should probably be happy instead, because… no, she has to tell you. It’s her body.

What about her body?

*whistles and looks away*

Uh…honey… I have to tell you something.

I know it has something to do with your body, but I don’t know what it is. Please tell me, I’m dying here.

I’m kind of…expecting.

Expecting what?

A baby. I’m pregnant. We’re having a baby.

*gulps*

…Alfie?

*stares*

…Alfie?
*keeps staring*

*also stares at TV screen*

…Ivy?

*stares*
…Ivy?

Oh my god, I’m going to be a father.

Yes, you are. Now tell her that you’re happy about that, dammit! Before she thinks you’re not.

*changes into real clothes and scoops closer* Ivy, I don’t know what to say. This is unbelievable. We are going to be parents! I’m so happy!

Really? Me, too. Oh, Alfie, I’m so glad you’re happy about this – you seemed shocked a minute ago.

That’s because I was…but positively shocked.

Ivy’s pregnancy made me think about my life, and what was really important. And then, one afternoon, I made a choice. Just watch how happy she is.

We’re engaged. We are going to get married. Ivy, the most wonderful woman in the world, is going to be my wife, and we are going to have a child together. It’s like everything I ever dreamed of has now become true.

*wipes tears from eyes* awww, that’s really sweet. I am so happy for you guys – not only because this means more idiots!

Ivy decided that she was in charge of our meals. If you think back to the food I consumed as a bachelor, you probably won’t find it hard to understand that I instantly agreed. This was safer for all of us. Real food, how awesome was that!

While she took care of the cooking and the house, which I apparently wasn’t capable of, I tried to prepare myself for being a father. There were so many books I could read, and so many things I needed to know. 

Oh, you caught me. That was not the pregnancy book; that was the sequel of “Magnetic Attraction”.

Before I was ready for it, Ivy’s water broke. I panicked, and she started shouting at me, demanding to stop panicking. Well, that didn’t help. Now I panicked because I couldn’t stop panicking.

 

While I was still busy running in circles, screaming, she called a taxi and we went to the hospital, where we would welcome our first child.

2.7 Home

Just kidding! Ivy was more than happy when I rushed over to her place and asked her to move in with me. She instantly packed her few things and followed me to my, no, OUR home.

The first thing she did was washing the dishes and vacuuming. When I asked her what she was doing, she replied that the house looked like a complete mess. Well… she sort of has a point there. I’d had different plans in mind for our first night in the same house, though.

Plans that involved playing chess! Finally I had an opponent. Playing against yourself wasn’t always funny, especially when you lose. 

Ahem. She won. She told me she had never played before, but that had to be a lie. No one could beat me this easily without any experience. When I sat on my chair, defeated, she smiled and pulled me up, into a hug. This hug was different from the few we had shared before. She was so close to me that I could smell her hair – it smelled a little like freshly mown grass, and…was that parchment paper?

Not you, too. Enough Harry Potter references! I can’t believe you claim to smell the same things Hermione did when being around that love potion.

What did you just say? Love?

Uh… love potion, yes. That’s where you quoted from, no?

Oh my God, I did. I love her. I didn’t realize before, but I love her. 

Without hesitating for one second, I pulled her closer and kissed her. It was unexpected for her, I could tell, but she didn’t try to free herself. That was a good sign, right?

Why would I pull back, you idiot? That was probably the most beautiful day in my life. Finally you revealed your feelings for me. Babies have been born while you were figuring out what you felt. People have died. Sky and Seona have gotten married.

Wait, what?

What?

What did you just say? Sky and Seona Chimeree have gotten married?

Why, you didn’t know?

No, how would I?! They’re not in my active household. Oh, my. They move fast.

No, Alfie just moves a little slowly. 

But I’m so glad he finally kissed me. I had been waiting for ages, and hoped that he would figure out that we were meant to be.  

I’m so sorry it took me so long… we could have had weeks before this!

How you two can talk while you are making out is beyond me. Never mind, carry on.

Before anyone could steal her from me, I asked her to be my girlfriend. And she said yes, can you believe it??! She said yes! The wonderful, beautiful, lovely, funny Ivy agreed to be my girlfriend! 

Yes, I actually can. I was there.

That called for a celebration. I was a little nervous, but she kind of guided me through the whole thing. Let me tell you: showers can be really slippery.

TMI, thank you very much.

When we had calmed down again, we sat down and had a talk. My house was really small, barely enough for me alone. Now that we were living together, something had to change. After a few phone calls and a quick scanning of the newspaper, we called a taxi and let it drive us to our new home. 

It wasn’t much, but I loved it. And, what was more important, I was going to live here with Ivy. Every day, every night.

Author's notes: you might have noticed that I slightly changed Ivy's speech color to dark purple. That's because a) purple is her favourite color, and b) I picture her speech to be more purple than navy blue. Call me crazy. ;)