"So it's true," Ivan said when Isadora opened the door.
She sighed. "Come on in."
They sat down in the living room, across from each other.
"Is anyone else home?"
"Not right now."
"Is it mine?" he asked.
"Um, probably."
He laughed. It wasn't a happy sound. "This is just peachy."
"You don't have to do anything," she said, her eyes filling with tears. "We'll be fine. My family will stand behind me."
"When were you going to tell me, Iz? When it started college?"
"I was afraid to," she said quietly. "I'm sorry."
"Plus, of course, you aren't sure it's mine."
"There's a chance it could be ... "
"Ricardo's." Ivan started laughing, a little hysterically.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing. So," he said heavily, "I suppose if it is mine, we'll have to, you know, get married."
"No, we won't."
"No? Don't I get a say?"
"I don't love you, Ivan. Not enough to marry you, anyway."
"I see."
"You and I want different things from life," she said. "I want a family. What do you want?"
"I don't know."
"See? That's what I'm talking about. Just pretend it's Ricardo's," she said, standing up. "It'll make it easier for you."
"No, it bloody well won't!" he shouted. "If it's my kid I want to take care of it. I'm no reneger. I'm not my father."
"Don't shout at me."
"I'll shout if I want to."
"No," Max said calmly from the doorway, "you won't. My daughter is pregnant. She needs peace of mind. You can leave now."
Ivan glared at them both. "Iz, please, we need to talk this over."
"Please go," Isadora said, crying. "I can't handle this right now."
"But--"
"Leave, or be thrown out," Max said.
Ivan left.
"The father, I presume?" Max said.
"Yes," Iz said in a very small voice. Despite what she'd told Ivan, she was 100% sure it was his.
He held out his arms and she went to him, sobbing into his chest.
"Shhhh," he said, "don't worry. We'll straighten this all out."
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Hunter Has News
"I have an announcement," Hunter said when she had gathered her housemates together. There were six of them now, Ivan, Ricardo, Zane, Holden, Sarah and Hunter, sharing a home.
Things were not going smoothly, to no one's surprise. Someone was always mad at someone else.
"I'm pregnant," Hunter said.
They all stared at her.
"Whose is it?" Sarah asked.
"I don't know," Hunter said with a shrug. "Does it matter?"
"Yes, it bloody well matters," Holden said, glaring at her. "I'm pretty sure it's not mine, though."
"Pretty sure?" Sarah asked, looking hurt.
"Don't play innocent, Sar," Holden said with a snarl. "I know all about you and Ricardo."
"So, you and Hunter ... "
"A while ago." Holden turned to Hunter. "This is so typical of you. A baby is a very big deal and you're just acting like it's .... " He threw up his hands. "Whatever. I have to go to work."
Ricardo, Ivan and Zane looked at each other, then at Hunter.
"When it's born, we have them test, to find out," Zane said. "Simple."
"I'm not the only one with a surprise in the oven," Hunter said, peeved at their behavior. "I ran into your precious sister yesterday and she was looking more than a little round around the middle. My money's on someone in this room."
Both Ricardo and Ivan went white. Zane stared at them.
"Both ... of you?"
Ivan put his face in his hands. Ricardo looked like he was about to barf.
"Oh, this is priceless," Hunter said, "Your dear, sweet, perfect sister isn't so pure as you thought."
"Watch it, Hunter."
"You wouldn't hit a pregnant woman, would you?" She didn't seem too scared.
"Don't tempt me."
Sarah looked at all of them and burst into tears. She ran upstairs.
"You don't suppose she ... " Ricardo said to Zane.
"God, I hope not."
Things were not going smoothly, to no one's surprise. Someone was always mad at someone else.
"I'm pregnant," Hunter said.
They all stared at her.
"Whose is it?" Sarah asked.
"I don't know," Hunter said with a shrug. "Does it matter?"
"Yes, it bloody well matters," Holden said, glaring at her. "I'm pretty sure it's not mine, though."
"Pretty sure?" Sarah asked, looking hurt.
"Don't play innocent, Sar," Holden said with a snarl. "I know all about you and Ricardo."
"So, you and Hunter ... "
"A while ago." Holden turned to Hunter. "This is so typical of you. A baby is a very big deal and you're just acting like it's .... " He threw up his hands. "Whatever. I have to go to work."
Ricardo, Ivan and Zane looked at each other, then at Hunter.
"When it's born, we have them test, to find out," Zane said. "Simple."
"I'm not the only one with a surprise in the oven," Hunter said, peeved at their behavior. "I ran into your precious sister yesterday and she was looking more than a little round around the middle. My money's on someone in this room."
Both Ricardo and Ivan went white. Zane stared at them.
"Both ... of you?"
Ivan put his face in his hands. Ricardo looked like he was about to barf.
"Oh, this is priceless," Hunter said, "Your dear, sweet, perfect sister isn't so pure as you thought."
"Watch it, Hunter."
"You wouldn't hit a pregnant woman, would you?" She didn't seem too scared.
"Don't tempt me."
Sarah looked at all of them and burst into tears. She ran upstairs.
"You don't suppose she ... " Ricardo said to Zane.
"God, I hope not."
Vyn's Less Than Pleased
"I hate her." Vyn fumed. "Uppity little hippy airhead. I can't stand her. How could Jake settle for that?"
"I like her," Piper said. "Are you sure you don't just have a case of no one's good enough for my baby?"
"No. How can you like her? She's rude."
"She's nervous. She didn't mean to upset you."
"Well, in future she should just keep her comments to herself."
"Vyn, she's carrying our grandchild. She's going to be around for a long time. Just try to relax and get used to her, OK? I think she'll grow on you."
"Like a fungus?"
Piper sighed. "Let's just go to bed, OK? It's been a long day."
"Fine." Vyn flounced to her side of the bed and flopped down, turning her back on her wife.
Piper frowned. This wasn't like Vyn. She wondered what was up, but she was too tired to pursue it tonight.
Maybe things would seem better in the morning.
"I like her," Piper said. "Are you sure you don't just have a case of no one's good enough for my baby?"
"No. How can you like her? She's rude."
"She's nervous. She didn't mean to upset you."
"Well, in future she should just keep her comments to herself."
"Vyn, she's carrying our grandchild. She's going to be around for a long time. Just try to relax and get used to her, OK? I think she'll grow on you."
"Like a fungus?"
Piper sighed. "Let's just go to bed, OK? It's been a long day."
"Fine." Vyn flounced to her side of the bed and flopped down, turning her back on her wife.
Piper frowned. This wasn't like Vyn. She wondered what was up, but she was too tired to pursue it tonight.
Maybe things would seem better in the morning.
Blossom Hourvitz
"I have something to discuss with you," Jake said.
"Uh oh. Sounds serious," Blossom teased.
"My grandfather wants us to move back home. He says he'd like to leave the family businesses to me, and if I live there he can pass along what he knows."
"Businesses?"
"Yes. He owns a bakery, on the premises, and a restaurant called the Crab Shack. What do you think?"
"Is it what you want?"
"Yeah, I think so. I mean, I'll get another job as well. The businesses are still kind of fledgling enterprises, but if they take off they could be very lucrative."
"Then it's what I want too."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Just ... will there be room for our baby?"
"Our baby?"
She smiled. He laughed, and gave her a big smooch.
"Well, that settles it. We get married the second we move in."
"Blossom Hourvitz. I like the sound of that. Only ... "
"What?"
"Your family. Do you think they'll like me?"
"Honey, they're going to love you."
"Uh oh. Sounds serious," Blossom teased.
"My grandfather wants us to move back home. He says he'd like to leave the family businesses to me, and if I live there he can pass along what he knows."
"Businesses?"
"Yes. He owns a bakery, on the premises, and a restaurant called the Crab Shack. What do you think?"
"Is it what you want?"
"Yeah, I think so. I mean, I'll get another job as well. The businesses are still kind of fledgling enterprises, but if they take off they could be very lucrative."
"Then it's what I want too."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Just ... will there be room for our baby?"
"Our baby?"
She smiled. He laughed, and gave her a big smooch.
"Well, that settles it. We get married the second we move in."
"Blossom Hourvitz. I like the sound of that. Only ... "
"What?"
"Your family. Do you think they'll like me?"
"Honey, they're going to love you."
A Fresh Start
"I've been doing a lot of thinking," Ariel said one night. "And the thing is, I'm not happy this way."
"I know," Raj said.
"I want to grow flowers, and spend more time with my grandchildren before they're all grown up, and go out to lunch, and lie in the sun. I want to be human again."
"I know," he said again.
"But I don't want to do it without you. I'd miss you so--"
The doorbell rang.
"Come with me," he said, taking her by the hand.
A gypsy matchmaker was standing on the front porch.
"Two potions, please," Raj said.
"Are you sure?" she said. "You've been a vampire forever."
"So, maybe it's time to try something new. I realize how selfish I've been, leaving you to raise our children during the daytime, earn the money, and then expecting you to give up your life when they'd grown, just to please me. So now it's my turn to do something for you."
"Oh, Raj," she said.
"It's not entirely selfless. I've wanted to be a scientist, now I've got my chance."
"I love you," she said."
"And you are my reason for living." He handed her her potion. "Bottoms up."
They moved out of Xena and Porter's home and bought a little cabin by the sea in Bluewater village. Raj got a job as a test subject, and he was as excited about it as a kid at Christmas. Ariel decided to find another field, as being a mad scientist no longer appealed to her. She thought maybe she'd try to be an athlete, or maybe a shopkeeper. She hadn't decided.
Their home was small, they had almost no money, but they were happier than they'd ever been.
A fresh start, Ariel thought, that's what this is. Her siblings might be old but thanks to the green stuff and her stint as a vampire she had a long ways to go before she caught them up.
The possibilities were suddenly endless.
"I know," Raj said.
"I want to grow flowers, and spend more time with my grandchildren before they're all grown up, and go out to lunch, and lie in the sun. I want to be human again."
"I know," he said again.
"But I don't want to do it without you. I'd miss you so--"
The doorbell rang.
"Come with me," he said, taking her by the hand.
A gypsy matchmaker was standing on the front porch.
"Two potions, please," Raj said.
"Are you sure?" she said. "You've been a vampire forever."
"So, maybe it's time to try something new. I realize how selfish I've been, leaving you to raise our children during the daytime, earn the money, and then expecting you to give up your life when they'd grown, just to please me. So now it's my turn to do something for you."
"Oh, Raj," she said.
"It's not entirely selfless. I've wanted to be a scientist, now I've got my chance."
"I love you," she said."
"And you are my reason for living." He handed her her potion. "Bottoms up."
They moved out of Xena and Porter's home and bought a little cabin by the sea in Bluewater village. Raj got a job as a test subject, and he was as excited about it as a kid at Christmas. Ariel decided to find another field, as being a mad scientist no longer appealed to her. She thought maybe she'd try to be an athlete, or maybe a shopkeeper. She hadn't decided.
Their home was small, they had almost no money, but they were happier than they'd ever been.
A fresh start, Ariel thought, that's what this is. Her siblings might be old but thanks to the green stuff and her stint as a vampire she had a long ways to go before she caught them up.
The possibilities were suddenly endless.
Shelter
Raven and Caleb were cold, hungry and wet. It had started to rain and they had nowhere to go.
"Sorry," Caleb said, sneezing. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea."
"Come on," Raven said. "I know of a place where we might be welcome."
The cab pulled up outside a mansion that had seen better days, smack in the middle of downtown. The pair got out and paid the driver before turning to face the house. They ran for it, huddling in the doorway as Raven rang the doorbell.
"Well, well, look what the cat's dragged in," Spike said. "Come on in, children, out of the rain."
"Thought I might be seeing the pair of you," Spike said.
"My dad called, didn't he."
"Yes," London said, sashaying in and handing them each a mug of hot tea.
"Was he in a good mood?"
"Uh, no."
"You can't tell him we're here," Raven said. "He wants to kill Caleb. He doesn't understand."
"You love him?" Spike asked.
"Yeah, I do."
Caleb stared at her like this was news to him.
"You chose this?"
"Of course. I'd like to see the guy who could turn me against my will." Raven was indignant.
"Good point." Spike chuckled. "All right, you can stay here."
"And my dad?"
"Mum's the word. But I'd like you to patch things up at some point."
"I will when he calms down. Right now I'm worried about Caleb's safety. He was really mad."
"Yeah, suppose I'd be too if you were my daughter. Oh well," Spike said. "Cheers, and welcome to your new home."
"Sorry," Caleb said, sneezing. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea."
"Come on," Raven said. "I know of a place where we might be welcome."
The cab pulled up outside a mansion that had seen better days, smack in the middle of downtown. The pair got out and paid the driver before turning to face the house. They ran for it, huddling in the doorway as Raven rang the doorbell.
"Well, well, look what the cat's dragged in," Spike said. "Come on in, children, out of the rain."
"Thought I might be seeing the pair of you," Spike said.
"My dad called, didn't he."
"Yes," London said, sashaying in and handing them each a mug of hot tea.
"Was he in a good mood?"
"Uh, no."
"You can't tell him we're here," Raven said. "He wants to kill Caleb. He doesn't understand."
"You love him?" Spike asked.
"Yeah, I do."
Caleb stared at her like this was news to him.
"You chose this?"
"Of course. I'd like to see the guy who could turn me against my will." Raven was indignant.
"Good point." Spike chuckled. "All right, you can stay here."
"And my dad?"
"Mum's the word. But I'd like you to patch things up at some point."
"I will when he calms down. Right now I'm worried about Caleb's safety. He was really mad."
"Yeah, suppose I'd be too if you were my daughter. Oh well," Spike said. "Cheers, and welcome to your new home."
Raven Breaks it to her Father
"Who is he? I'll tear his arms off!" Apollo was in a towering temper. Everyone else was staying out of the fight that was escalating between him and his only daughter.
Raven wasn't one to be intimidated, even by the wrath of Dad. "Chill, Pops. It's a done deed."
"Don't you talk to me like that," he said.
"I'll say what I like to whom I like," she said. "I'm all grown up now, Dad. I thought I was doing you a favor, coming here, telling you in person rather than having you hear it through the grapevine."
"Is this what you wanted for yourself?" Apollo said. "I had such high hopes for you, Raven. Of all of you kids, you were the one with the greatest potential, and you just throw it away on some college dropout?"
"A person isn't measured by whether or not he has a degree," Raven said hotly. "Speaking of which, I thought you'd be happy I waited until I'd graduated. With honors."
"Where are you going to live?"
"I'm not sure I want to tell you that just yet. Calm down, change your homicidal thoughts toward my guy, and then maybe."
"I'm disappointed in you. I thought you had more sense."
"Yeah, well, you've said that, and I'm sorry but this is my life."
"So that's that. You're going to stay this way."
"Your own parents are vampires, dad."
"And look what it's brought them." Apollo threw up his hands in surrender. "I give up. Do what you want. Just don't expect me to like it. And if I run across your boyfriend, I'm making no promises."
"Don't threaten me," Raven said, furious. She turned into a bat and flew away.
"Well, I handled that well," Apollo said to himself.
Raven wasn't one to be intimidated, even by the wrath of Dad. "Chill, Pops. It's a done deed."
"Don't you talk to me like that," he said.
"I'll say what I like to whom I like," she said. "I'm all grown up now, Dad. I thought I was doing you a favor, coming here, telling you in person rather than having you hear it through the grapevine."
"Is this what you wanted for yourself?" Apollo said. "I had such high hopes for you, Raven. Of all of you kids, you were the one with the greatest potential, and you just throw it away on some college dropout?"
"A person isn't measured by whether or not he has a degree," Raven said hotly. "Speaking of which, I thought you'd be happy I waited until I'd graduated. With honors."
"Where are you going to live?"
"I'm not sure I want to tell you that just yet. Calm down, change your homicidal thoughts toward my guy, and then maybe."
"I'm disappointed in you. I thought you had more sense."
"Yeah, well, you've said that, and I'm sorry but this is my life."
"So that's that. You're going to stay this way."
"Your own parents are vampires, dad."
"And look what it's brought them." Apollo threw up his hands in surrender. "I give up. Do what you want. Just don't expect me to like it. And if I run across your boyfriend, I'm making no promises."
"Don't threaten me," Raven said, furious. She turned into a bat and flew away.
"Well, I handled that well," Apollo said to himself.
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