#•| lowell & caroline || oh baby baby |•

[polymusepotion]

caroline:

her moodiness has long since earned her a reputation around the halls of this school. and, suffice to say, the state of her appearance today combined with the waves of moodiness rolling off of her have people giving her a wide berth. so when he drops down across from her at lunch, the demon-spawn asleep in it’s carrier, she jumps slightly, fork pausing just before she gives another violent stab at her salad.  he seems to be doing okay — a little worn, but who wouldn’t be? after being charged with the world’s best advertisement for birth control?  ❝ well i fell asleep in history and alaric asked me if i was sick because i looked ‘a little off.’ and then my math teacher got pissed because i didn’t do the homework and i had to explain that i did do it — my robot demon baby just spit up on it and ruined it. but she didn’t buy it. ❞ the salad earns another harsh jab of her fork before she chews, expression softening as she looks at lowell.  ❝ how about you? ❞ her gaze is more studious now as she looks him over, brow furrowing in concern.  ❝ you haven’t murdered it yet, have you? ❞

"she's sleeping," he says with a wave of his hand. "and before that makes you angry, and i know it will, she screamed through most of my first class, slept through my second, and got incredibly fussy in the third. i burped her after i gave her her bottle. heated for thirteen seconds, just as you said. so far, she hasn't spit it back up. but i'll undoubtedly be changing a truly horrifying mess of a diaper later."

despite all of this, there's still that curl to his lips, letting her know he's not too bothered by any of it. but, again, he actually slept some last night. and even if he hadn't, his time would have been spent with his guitar, not trying to hush a screaming baby.

one week of baby duty. and today was only tuesday. it meant they'd have the baby over the weekend (he would insist on keeping it -- her -- as much as possible so they didn't risk caroline actually drowning her in the kitchen sink while giving it a bath.) "home ec--"

"hi lowell," a voice chimed in. a pale blonde girl named liv sidled up to their table. she tucked a strand of her short hair behind her ear and smiled at him, completely ignoring caroline. "i saw how great you are with your baby in first period. you're going to make a really great father someday."

lowell gave her a warm smile in return, but there was none of the affection in his eyes. that was saved for caroline. "major has ours during the day. but i'll have him this evening if you'd like to have a little playdate with the kids in the park this afternoon."

his smile faltered. "thanks for the offer," he said, not unkindly. "but i have a date with my girlfriend this evening. she and i will be watching our daughter together." lowell reached across the table to take caroline's hand. as a show of solidarity? maybe. but more to keep her from stabbing liv in the eye with the fork in her hand. "but you might check on major. he had spit up all over his jersey in third period. and i think changing the diaper made him... uh. return the favor. right onto the baby's face."

liv paled, horror and disgust playing out across her face in equal measures. she nodded once, then darted away. "anyway," lowell said, turning back to caroline. "home economics is next. i'll make sure she has a clean diaper. she's been fed. can you think of anything else we need to do for the check-in with the teacher before our baby gets plugged in and reset for another night of torture?"

caroline:

her moodiness has long since earned her a reputation around the halls of this school. and, suffice to say, the state of her appearance today combined with the waves of moodiness rolling off of her have people giving her a wide berth. so when he drops down across from her at lunch, the demon-spawn asleep in it’s carrier, she jumps slightly, fork pausing just before she gives another violent stab at her salad.  he seems to be doing okay — a little worn, but who wouldn’t be? after being charged with the world’s best advertisement for birth control?  ❝ well i fell asleep in history and alaric asked me if i was sick because i looked ‘a little off.’ and then my math teacher got pissed because i didn’t do the homework and i had to explain that i did do it — my robot demon baby just spit up on it and ruined it. but she didn’t buy it. ❞ the salad earns another harsh jab of her fork before she chews, expression softening as she looks at lowell.  ❝ how about you? ❞ her gaze is more studious now as she looks him over, brow furrowing in concern.  ❝ you haven’t murdered it yet, have you? ❞

"she's sleeping," he says with a wave of his hand. "and before that makes you angry, and i know it will, she screamed through most of my first class, slept through my second, and got incredibly fussy in the third. i burped her after i gave her her bottle. heated for thirteen seconds, just as you said. so far, she hasn't spit it back up. but i'll undoubtedly be changing a truly horrifying mess of a diaper later."

despite all of this, there's still that curl to his lips, letting her know he's not too bothered by any of it. but, again, he actually slept some last night. and even if he hadn't, his time would have been spent with his guitar, not trying to hush a screaming baby.

one week of baby duty. and today was only tuesday. it meant they'd have the baby over the weekend (he would insist on keeping it -- her -- as much as possible so they didn't risk caroline actually drowning her in the kitchen sink while giving it a bath.) "home ec--"

"hi lowell," a voice chimed in. a pale blonde girl named liv sidled up to their table. she tucked a strand of her short hair behind her ear and smiled at him, completely ignoring caroline. "i saw how great you are with your baby in first period. you're going to make a really great father someday."

lowell gave her a warm smile in return, but there was none of the affection in his eyes. that was saved for caroline. "major has ours during the day. but i'll have him this evening if you'd like to have a little playdate with the kids in the park this afternoon."

his smile faltered. "thanks for the offer," he said, not unkindly. "but i have a date with my girlfriend this evening. she and i will be watching our daughter together." lowell reached across the table to take caroline's hand. as a show of solidarity? maybe. but more to keep her from stabbing liv in the eye with the fork in her hand. "but you might check on major. he had spit up all over his jersey in third period. and i think changing the diaper made him... uh. return the favor. right onto the baby's face."

liv paled, horror and disgust playing out across her face in equal measures. she nodded once, then darted away. "anyway," lowell said, turning back to caroline. "home economics is next. i'll make sure she has a clean diaper. she's been fed. can you think of anything else we need to do for the check-in with the teacher before our baby gets plugged in and reset for another night of torture?"