More updates. Roar.

Enjoy!

--

"I like the name Crystalline," I said softly, leaning against Jackson and holding the book of names, given to me by my mother, in my lap. "For a girl, at least."

"For a boy?" Jackson asked, peering over my shoulder and looking at the list of names and meanings.

"I haven't gotten that far," I told him, chuckling and nudging him in the ribs gently. "We're not to the boys section quite yet."

Jackson rubbed the spot where I had poked him and snorts. "Well hurry up, we need to find a name for our son."

"Or our daughter," I said with another nudge, playfully scowling at him.

"I have a feeling it's a he," Jackson told me, rubbing my arms.

"I feel otherwise. Mother instincts."

Jackson chuckled softly, burying his face in my shoulder and gazing at the book again. "We won't find out until you're six months along."

"Yeah," I agreed, sighing softly and shaking my head sadly. "That's such a long ways away."

"It'll be quicker than you think, butterfly," he promised, kissing my forehead gently.

"Hopefully." I leaned back against him and yawned slightly. I've been extremely tired these past couple days, making me wonder if I will ever get my energy back. Sure, I'm getting enough rest (mainly because I sleep half the day), but I just don't feel energetic right now. Whenever I do, I go out training with mom and Jed.

Leto has been protective more than Jackson and my parents put together. She always scolds my mother or Jed whenever they suggest doing a tactic that could 'hurt or endanger me and the child' during training. I've had to tell Leto multiple times that I was fine, the baby was fine, and they this was all just training.

"Are you ready for your first ultrasound?" Jackson asked me, smiling widely. I blinked at hearing his voice and turned my gaze to him.

"Yeah," I replied with a nod. I'll admit it, I was super nervous about the appointment. But at the same time, I was excited too. I would see my baby for the first time.

"Faye!" Jordan yelled up at me, making me groan and shut the book. I made sure to save the place I was at before sliding off Jackson's lap and getting to my feet.

"What?" I called back, making my way down the stairs, gliding my hand across the smooth railing as I did. I saw Jordan waiting for me, Jennifer, one of the twins, in her arms.

"I want to teach you how to take care of a baby," she told me cheerfully, patting Jennifer's back as the little one wriggled around in her arms.

"I know how to, Jord," I reply, stepping off the last stair and standing in front of her with a tilt of my head. "I've taken care of a baby before, you know."

"When you helped me babysit," Jordan pointed out, shaking her head. "And all you did was change the diaper. You're going to be a mother in nine months, so you need to know more than that."

Jordan's right, but I didn't know if I wanted to start right now. I was still getting used to being pregnant, after all.

I bite down on my bottom lip and glance from Jennifer to Jordan, thinking of what to say. Do I turn her down or agree?

"Faye." A pair of fingers snapped in front of my face, making me go back into reality.

"Sorry what?" I asked, my eyes shifting to my sister's face.

"You're looking hesitant," she said, shrugging Jennifer up a bit so she wouldn't fall. "Are you alright?"

"I-I'm fine," I told her. "I just don't know if I'm ready to start learning about motherhood yet. I mean, I have nine months. Plus, I'm still getting used to the whole expecting thing." I glanced down at my still flattened stomach and shifted slightly on my feet.

Jordan's eyes softened in understanding and she reached her free hand forward and squeezed my shoulder. "I know, Faye. I don't know what it's like, seeing as I wasn't.."

"Shot and told I'd be ninety percent infertile?" I offered to her, looking down.

"..Yes," she agreed quietly, not looking at me. She removed her hand from my shoulder. "I just want you to know that I'm always here if you want to come to me about anything."

"I know," I murmured softly, looking back up at my sister and niece. Jennifer had fallen asleep peacefully and yawned slightly before snuggling closer to Jordan. Cutie.

"Why don't we start with simple stuff?" Jordan suggested in a quieter tone of voice. "Like.. How to tell what a baby wants?"

"Umm.. A baby cries when it wants something or needs something.."

"It's more than that." Jordan shook her head, looking amused by my statement. "A baby has different cries, different facial emotions, just like you and I when we need or want something."

I resisted the urge to reach up and rub my temples, and I released a small breath. "Jordan, I know.."

"If you knew, you certainly wouldn't have said that would you?" Jordan interrupted, amusement seeming to grow while a small triumphant tone snuck it's way into her words.

My sister could really piss me off when she had her mind set on it. I crossed my arms and sent her a scowl. "Oh shut up."

"Don't shut up me," Jordan replied. "Now come with me to learn about the baby emotions." She smiled and wriggled her fingers at me.

"You're a creepy ass woman," I noted, wrinkling my nose at her and huffing at her stubbornness.

"Thank you," she said cheerfully, gently rocking her daughter back and forth and smiling. "Let us go then. To the living room!"

God.

--

"I'm sure it wasn't that bad," Jackson told me as he opened the door for me to the car.

"Jackson, sweetheart," I started sweetly, turning on my heel and blinking at him with a sweet smile, "she had me working on memorizing the facial expressions as well as the types of sounds a baby has. My head hurts like someone rammed a hammer into it."

Jackson shook his head, amusement rising in his expression. "Don't be so dramatic, butterfly."

"Next lesson, why don't you join us?" I suggested, sliding into the passenger seat and slipping my seatbelt on.

Jackson leaned forward on his elbows on top of the door, eyebrows raised. "Alright I will," he confirmed, smirking. "When's the next lesson?"

"Tomorrow night," I told him, unbelieving that he will actually do this. I was skeptic, and I had a feeling Jackson was just trying to get under my skin the idiot.

Jackson shut my door and walked around to his side and slipped inside, shutting his door and slipping the key into the ignition. "Alright, I'll be there. Scout's honor."

A smirk rose my own lips, and I lean back against the seat and laugh softly. "Okay. I can't wait to see you there. You'll learn so much about baby noises."

"Can't wait," he said simply, backing out of the driveway and into the road. God, he was good at looking so simple with things like this; I was so stressed and worried while he was being Mr. Calm Guy.

"I'm sure you can't," I murmured, now pissed at the male species altogether.

When we arrived at the clinic, I was feeling nervous for the appointment. I was worried they were going to tell me the baby isn't healthy, or that there's no baby at all.. I closed my eyes and scolded myself.

Don't think about that.

I took deep, calm breaths and closed my eyes for a moment. I'm worrying too much, I thought to myself as I entered the chilly clinic with Jackson behind me. The smell of a doctor's office hit me, making me queasy. Note to self, baby does not like doctor office smell. Do not eat before coming to appointments.

"Hello," the receptionist greeted us, smiling kindly as we approached. "Do you have an appointment or wish to set one up?"

"Hi," I told her, tapping my fingers anxiously against the counter out of habit. "I have an appointment with Doctor Fishers."

"Of course," she chirped, typing something on the keyboard. "Name please?"

"Faye Hades," I told her, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear shyly and biting my lip. I needed to stop some of these nervous habits I have, it makes me look weird most likely.

And why was I worrying about my appearance right now? I ground out in my head, a tinge of annoyance rising up in my chest. Holy shit I was so bipolar right now.

"Here you are.." She went through some confirmation and payment things with Jackson and I, but three minutes later she told us that Doctor Fishers would be with us momentarily.

Jackson sat beside me in the nearest chair, while I tapped my foot on the floor lightly and chew on my bottom lip. He studied my face, I could tell, for a moment before taking my left hand in his and giving it a squeeze.

"Hey," he said, his voice gentle and soothing. He turned my chin so I looking at him. "It'll be fine, alright?"

"Jackson.. I'm so scared.." I whispered, trying not to cry right now. I was very scared, as much as I tried not to be. Jordan told me that being like this was bad for both me and the baby. But I couldn't help it. "The time in the hospital keeps coming back to me.."

"Don't think about that," he replied firmly, but kindly. "We need to think positive. If you were able to get pregnant then you are certainly able to have a successful birth, and I am going to make sure you do. I am not losing our baby, the life we made out of love."

I reached over and gave him a side hug, tears threatening to build up and spill from my eyes. But I pushed the liquids down, determined not to cry right now. "I love you," I whispered.

"I love you too," he murmured, kissing my head. "See? We're going to be okay."

I nodded shakily against his warm body, believing every single word.