will-never-be-a-swan:

mira-starling:

ulric-on-the-strings:

wrapped-in-shadows:

Jack cuddled his wife, but he didn’t seem nearly as happy about the news. “Why do you have to wait so long.” He gave Katelynn one last nuzzle before turning back to the screen. “Ulric, you’ve been there for almost a year now. I’m glad you’re having a good time, but this is still where you belong. And when.”

He quirked an eyebrow. Growing up, when his son had given these kind of half-answers, it had usually meant … “Is there something going on?”

Katelynn’s response is so familiar that Ulric has to remind himself not to laugh, still holding onto Mira and facing the camera.

“We have something to tell you, actually.” With that, he takes a quick look to Mira, making sure she’d be alright with it. “And… I know. It won’t be too long.”

Oh boy, the spotlight was on her now. Jack already seemed to suspect something was up. If she considered Gail’s reaction to be bad, Mira suspected Jack and Katelynn’s reactions to be much worse. But they had to tell them. It wasn’t like Mira could hide the pregnancy forever. Her thoughts started going back and forth wondering if she should simply blurt it out or ease it to them. Her heart was beating faster as she gave Ulric a nervous squeeze. “U-Uh…yes, we do. And um…part of the reason for the move.”

Mira glanced quickly at Ulric, mouth opening and closing a few times. It was on the tip of her tongue. “I…” she started. “I’m…” she repeated. “I, uh…” Mira’s voice started to get shaky, eyes darting from Ulric to the screen. Fuck, why was this so hard to do? Swallowing nervously, Mira took a deep breath in. She just had to say it. 

“I…I’m pregnant.”

That calmed her, arms holding Jack loosely as she merely stared at the screen. Had she heard right or was the reception between time shorting out on them? “P-Pregnant?” she repeated, eyes wandering between the two of them.

Her son had impregnated his girlfriend? She had barely been able to accept that her baby was all grown up, no longer clinging to her skirts or asking for juice boxes and now he was going to be a father? Granted they had Joey but this was something else entirely.

“O-Oh my…!” Tears dusted her lashes as she fought back feelings of happiness and worry before turning to look at her husband, figuring he wasn’t going to take it well.

“… What?”

The blood drained from Jack’s face, leaving it a sickly-looking gray. He felt as if his stomach had dropped out – as if something inside him had gone cold and crumbled away. He heard the words, but could only gape for a moment as the full impact settled in. 

His son had gotten someone pregnant. After all the hard work Jack and Katelynn had done to educate their children about sex and safety, one of them had still gone and made the ultimate screw-up (pun very much intended). There was no way Ulric was ready for a baby of his own. He was too young – he hadn’t even finished school! – and worse, he was stuck twenty-five years in the past. 

When he turned to Ulric, there was no happiness in his expression. Only anger, grief, and fear. “Is that true?" 

will-never-be-a-swan:

mira-starling:

ulric-on-the-strings:

wrapped-in-shadows:

“We got him from the same shelter we got Roxy and Stella from,” Jack added. “He’s only a few months old now, so it’s perfect. When you come back, he and Joey can grow up together.” He smiled at the thought. 

“And I’m proud of you too, Ulric. You’re probably the best person who could have found him.” His smile faded a little, and he looked faintly wistful, remembering how things had gone for him when he landed on Earth. He would have given anything to be found by another blue person, who would understand his needs. “From what I’ve seen, you’re doing wonderfully with him so far. But I am looking forward to all of you finally coming home.” 

“Yeah I hear that.” Laughing in return, Ulric rests the side of his head against Mira’s, a happy smile on his face. Holding onto Joey with his other arm, he hugs the little boy close even as the action results in a stream of protesting ‘no’s.

Katelynn leaning in like that is so familiar that it brings a surprise stab of nostalgia, hold on Mira tightening briefly. “Thanks, that… really means a lot.”

The next part, though, that they both were looking forward to seeing him in person again… “That might be a few more months, actually.”

Mira’s warm smile only grew to a large grin when Ulric tightened his hold on her and pulled Joey in for a hug. She had to start laughing once the little guy started protesting. Mainly because of how cute it was. “What’s wrong, huh?” she teased, patting her son’s head. Mira slowly came to a stop when she looked back up and smiled at her future mother and father-in-law. 

She actually became a bit quiet when Ulric mentioned them moving back much sooner. And Mira knew a big reason for it. “Uh, yeah, actually…thinking near December.” she continued.

“Oh!” Already thoughts and plans were jumping around in her head, her loose bun bouncing along with her as she grew more excited by the minute. “Just in time for Christmas! I’ll have to make sure and set apart places for you all. My babies are coming home soon!”

Unable to resist she threw her arms around her husband and snuggled into him, the overpowering emotions causing giggles throughout her body.

Jack cuddled his wife, but he didn’t seem nearly as happy about the news. “Why do you have to wait so long.” He gave Katelynn one last nuzzle before turning back to the screen. “Ulric, you’ve been there for almost a year now. I’m glad you’re having a good time, but this is still where you belong. And when.”

He quirked an eyebrow. Growing up, when his son had given these kind of half-answers, it had usually meant … “Is there something going on?”

will-never-be-a-swan:

mira-starling:

ulric-on-the-strings:

wrapped-in-shadows:

“Heh, very much so,” Jack gave Mira a friendly, slightly teasing smile.

“And seconding what your mother said, Ulric.” He straightened up a little. “I can’t tell you how proud I am, of both of you. When you wanted to go back to the past, on your own, I’ll be honest – I thought you were crazy. But you’ve handled yourselves like real adults. When you come back,” he went on, still smiling, “I know you’ll be ready for anything.” 

“As for the two of us,” he relaxed again, “nothing terribly exciting’s happened. But, Katelynn’s right, we have been missing our kids. So …” He grinned. “We adopted another dog.”

The Maples’ last two dogs, Roxy and Stella, had lived long, happy lives, much loved by their family. But they had both died before Ulric reached his teens, and in the years since then, the family had been too busy (and missed them too much) to think of getting any more dogs. Until now, that is.

Giving Mira a light squeeze, Ulric hums happily; having her this close by was helping. ” ‘Course we are.”

Which of them was going to break this news, he didn’t know. Right now though they’d at least be able to catch up, right? His smile widens, hearing that, that both of them were proud of him and Gail. “Hope so, Dad.” Ulric sits up a little bit more.

“You did? What kind?” After Roxy and Stella had died, it hadn’t looked like they’d be getting another dog, but it had been years since then… and almost a year since they’d left.

Laughing a little at Katelynn, Mira looked up at Ulric with a grin. “Hear that, Sensitive Ears?”

That little squeeze helped her. Mira gave Ulric a little comforting squeeze in return. Oh how were they going to break it to his parents that she was pregnant? Mira knew that was the last thing they’d probably expect to hear, and the one thing they probably didn’t want to hear. That their son and his fiancé are having a baby in the past. 

And they were so happy. Mira smiled at Ulric’s parents from across the screen. So proud of their kids. Mira just…didn’t know how to tell it to them. Talking and catching up a bit longer seemed like a good idea to Mira, though.

She smiled when she heard they’d adopted a new dog. “Yeah, what kind?”

“Doberman and he’s the cutest little thing,” she gushed, hands folded neatly in front of her as she leaned forward to grin at them. Granted this meant her face took up most of the screen – she had become a bit more accustomed to communicating with the watches.

“I think Joey is going to really enjoy playing with him when you guys come visit or return home. You know, I don’t mind babysitting him when you two want time to yourselves. It’ll be nice to have a little one in the house again. I’m really proud of you for having taken him in, honey,”

Leaning back a bit, it was hard to get rid of the smile on her face, now more so because she was talking to her son.

“We got him from the same shelter we got Roxy and Stella from,” Jack added. “He’s only a few months old now, so it’s perfect. When you come back, he and Joey can grow up together.” He smiled at the thought. 

“And I’m proud of you too, Ulric. You’re probably the best person who could have found him.” His smile faded a little, and he looked faintly wistful, remembering how things had gone for him when he landed on Earth. He would have given anything to be found by another blue person, who would understand his needs. “From what I’ve seen, you’re doing wonderfully with him so far. But I am looking forward to all of you finally coming home." 

will-never-be-a-swan:

mira-starling:

ulric-on-the-strings:

wrapped-in-shadows:

There was the sound of something clattering over in the kitchen, and excited yapping. “H-hold on!” Jack called. “I just need to let the puppy out … !”

A few minutes later, a somewhat flustered-looking Jack Maple came into the living room to join his wife. With the special wheeled tray he’d set up, months ago, the two of them could sit on the couch together as they looked at the computer screen. The blue man smoothed his graying mustache and goatee, and scooted into view on the vidcam with a warm smile. “Hello, Ulric. And Miss Mira! It’s nice to see you back to normal,” he chuckled. “And hi there, you two,” he said in a softer voice, waving to Joey and Minion. 

He’d had to try and keep himself from laughing when Ulric realized what they were looking at. “She’s either in her place or at work.” He waves a little, grinning and leaning in closer to Mira.

“Hi dad. Mom.” Now that’s a smile he recognized, grin relaxing into a matching smile of his own as Joey waves back at the screen.

Mira’s heart spiked at Katelynn appearing on screen. But once she started talking, Mira finally started to calm down somewhat. Her future mother-in-law seemed so…happy and bubbly, full of life as opposed to the Kateylnn she’d met months ago… Mira waved at Ulric’s mother and smiled warmly. She’d never talked to the future Katelynn before. Just…so different from her own mother. Polar opposite.

“H-Hi there.” Mira kept smiling, lowering her hand down to pat Joey’s head. Her eyes wandered around the screen when she heard some noise coming from the background, sitting up a little straighter but blushing once Jack made his way on screen, joining Katelynn. That’s right, she’d been turned into a baby last time she’d spoken with him. “Uh, yeah, little less embarrassing, right?” she rubbed at the back of her neck and chuckled.

Mira snuggled next to her fiancé and made herself comfortable trying not to let the reason why they’d called Jack and Katelynn worry her too much. “Good to talk to you without being hit with magic for once. How are you guys?” she asked.

“Missing our babies,” Katelynn answered, a sad little smile directed at Ulric. “I hope you and your sister are taking proper care of each other back in the past. And eating right. I give permission for Mira to tug your ear if you’re not.”

She winked at Mira before settling back down.

“Heh, very much so,” Jack gave Mira a friendly, slightly teasing smile.

“And seconding what your mother said, Ulric.” He straightened up a little. “I can’t tell you how proud I am, of both of you. When you wanted to go back to the past, on your own, I’ll be honest – I thought you were crazy. But you’ve handled yourselves like real adults. When you come back,” he went on, still smiling, “I know you’ll be ready for anything." 

"As for the two of us,” he relaxed again, “nothing terribly exciting’s happened. But, Katelynn’s right, we have been missing our kids. So …” He grinned. “We adopted another dog.”

The Maples’ last two dogs, Roxy and Stella, had lived long, happy lives, much loved by their family. But they had both died before Ulric reached his teens, and in the years since then, the family had been too busy (and missed them too much) to think of getting any more dogs. Until now, that is.

will-never-be-a-swan:

mira-starling:

ulric-on-the-strings:

Laptop in front of them, having made himself comfortable and made sure that the connection was working first, Ulric leans back and settles an arm around Mira’s shoulders. Joey is sitting between them, his Minion in his lap, and looking between both his parents as the sound of dialing starts.

“You ready Star?” The question is quiet, a worried look directed toward Mira.

Deep breaths.

She had to take deep breaths to try and calm herself down. This would be fine, she had to keep telling herself that. Even though she was already bracing herself for the worst. Mira sat back and snuggled next to Ulric for some comfort. She needed a lot of it. With one hand around Ulric, the other gave Joey’s head a soft pat. She had her family here with her, she knew she’d be okay.

But her heart was starting to race hearing the dial tones. Any minute Jack and Katelynn could pick up.

“Gonna have to be, won’t I?” Mira answered just as quiet. How on earth were they going to tell them their son and his fiancé are having a baby? Gail didn’t take it lightly. Mira supposed Ulric’s parents reactions would be worse.

So taking another breath in, Mira waited.

The image blipped to life before them, Katelynn’s chin taking up most of the screen as if she were checking on something above the monitor. “I wonder if I pressed the right button..?” she said softly to herself before leaning back and noticing they were visible. Her face brightened as her lips stretched out. “Hi honey!” She waved, eyes directed at Ulric. When she turned to see Mira, her smile became a touch more polite. “Hello Mira!

“Love! Ulric’s calling! Come say hi! Where’s your sister by the way?” Her attitude was bubbly, innocent eyes blinking at them.

There was the sound of something clattering over in the kitchen, and excited yapping. “H-hold on!” Jack called. “I just need to let the puppy out … !”

A few minutes later, a somewhat flustered-looking Jack Maple came into the living room to join his wife. With the special wheeled tray he’d set up, months ago, the two of them could sit on the couch together as they looked at the computer screen. The blue man smoothed his graying mustache and goatee, and scooted into view on the vidcam with a warm smile. “Hello, Ulric. And Miss Mira! It’s nice to see you back to normal,” he chuckled. “And hi there, you two,” he said in a softer voice, waving to Joey and Minion.