#terrence nessen

[sparrowwritings]

Day Fourteen: Pregnancy

Day Thirteen -- Masterpost -- Day Fifteen

About a decade after Motto

“Are you sure I can’t get you anything?” Terrence asked for the eighteenth time that morning. 

Noramena laughed and patted her husband’s cheek. “Dear, you will know if I need anything. This isn’t my first child, after all.”

As if on cue, Malena marched into the sitting room. She was very seriously carrying the faded but still colorful blanket she always slept with. Once she stood in front of her mother and stepfather, her young voice loudly declared. “Mama, Papa, I want the new baby to have my swaddle.” Malena held it in front of her. “She’s going to need something nice and warm to sleep in, and I’m always warm while I’m using it so…” Her formerly confident voice trailed off. 

The two adults looked at each other. Terrence wasn’t exactly sure what his wife was trying to communicate to him, but he was pretty sure that Malena would miss her blanket very much. The gesture was a nice touch, though. He gave a nod to Nora before moving his head towards the girl. Even disregarding the gender roles that he accepted when he married her, Terrence would always follow his wife’s lead regarding her daughter. 

“That’s so sweet of you, my little flower.” Nora sat up from her lounge and opened her arms. The seven-year-old rushed into the offered hug without hesitation. The girl’s long black hair was soon being combed through by patient and steady fingers. With a tease in her voice, Nora continued. “But what if you end up with a brother instead? Do you think he will enjoy your swaddle?”

For a moment, Malena looked up from her comfortable position against her mother’s chest. Her lower lip pouted adorably. Terrence just barely kept a chuckle to himself. “...I guess he’d also like it…” She grumbled before going back to her previous position. Even with his good ear, Terrence almost missed her final statement. “It’ll warm up boys too…” 

He sat down next to his wife and reached over to rub at the girl’s back. “That’s a very grown up thing to do, Malena. We’re very proud.” 

The parents waited while she very obviously struggled to put together the words she wanted to use. Finally, she pushed away from both of them. “A-and! If the baby doesn’t like the swaddle she--he--the baby can have something else of mine! I’ll give and give and give so that the baby isn’t sad ever! You’ll never hear crying! I promise!” Malena seemed close to tears, herself.

Terrence and Noramena looked at each other. This time, each of them had an identical worried expression. “Hey, it’s okay.” He kept his voice soft as he offered a hand to his daughter. “You don’t have to do so much for the baby right now. They’re not even here yet.”

“B-but…” And now her dark eyes were dripping tears down her small face. “Some of the other girls kept talking about how their little sisters and brothers kept up their Mamas and Papas and how they’re always so tired and upset. A-and I just got Papa after my other one was so mean to Mama! I don’t want that to happen!” With a heaving sob she nearly tackled Terrence from the force of her embrace. “I love Papa so much!”

He didn’t really have the words that could help her. His parents died when he and his older brother were so young, Terrence didn’t have any real memories of them. Even with the Thieves’ Guild training the two of them in The Art, none of the people there were parents. Just outlaws and ruffians and goons doing what they wanted to while under the watchful eye of the King of Thieves. Instead, Maro was the one who really raised him. Who taught him how to be a person and not just a thug. If anyone would know what to say at this moment, it would be him.

Since his brother wasn’t around, Terrence had to improvise. “Shh, shh...it’ll be okay.” He went back to rubbing Malena’s back as she sobbed into his shirt. “I’m not going anywhere, Lena.” His eyes locked with Nora’s as he continued to speak. “Babies need a lot of help. It’s a lot for some people! That’s why your friends see their parents so upset.” At the approving nod, he kept going. “But I’m not going anywhere. Even if we disagree sometimes, I made a promise to your Mama that I was here to stay. I mean to keep every word of that promise.” He gently patted the top of Malena’s head. 

Nora made a grunting sound and two pairs of eyes turned to look at her. She waved them off with a wince followed by a smile. “The baby kicked approval. Quite strongly!”

The ease of tension helped the other two giggle at the interruption. Terrence carefully put a finger under his daughter’s chin so that she would look up at him. “But since you’re already being a good big sister and worrying so much about the baby, I think we’ll be just fine.”

Malena blinked up at him before giving a relieved smile. “Okay…” She breathed.

“I think,” Noramena piped up. “That the two of you should make some lunch.” She grinned. “Baby wants me to have something interesting today. Do pickles and sweet cream sound good to you?”

Again, Terrence and Malena stared over at her. This time they shared similar expressions of disgust.

“Why, though…”

“Gross!”

“Did this happen when you were having Malena too??”

“Eeeeewww!”

Noramena kept laughing at their expense.