will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

“You’ve never owned a poodle, have you?” Jack asked with a small smile. “We had one growing up. Her name was Daisy. Black as night and one of the toughest things in the world. She wasn’t fluffy or polite or tapped around on tip toes. She bounded and barked and played hard ball.” he smiled again, looking skyward. “She was a good dog…

But yeah. Bulldogs are good too, if that’s what you’re into.”

She nodded enthusiastically, all smiles. “They’re cute. People don’t tend to think so but I do.”

“When would you want to stop by the shelter?” he asked.

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

“Also depends on what they’ve got. You can’t be picky when you go to a shelter.” Jack adds. “Something small, short hair… how about a poodle? They’re really good, they don’t shed, are good guard dogs too…?” he offered. 

“A poodle?” She echoed, thinking it over. “Those are..kind of girly, don’t you think?”

She actually imagined something else. Something she considered cute and had seen on TV once. “What about a bulldog? Those are cute!”

“You’ve never owned a poodle, have you?” Jack asked with a small smile. “We had one growing up. Her name was Daisy. Black as night and one of the toughest things in the world. She wasn’t fluffy or polite or tapped around on tip toes. She bounded and barked and played hard ball.” he smiled again, looking skyward. “She was a good dog…

But yeah. Bulldogs are good too, if that’s what you’re into.”

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

“It’d be mean to get a big dog when you have a small apartment.” Jack told her gently as they walked down the street, his hand holding hers tightly. “They need room to move. Smaller dogs not so much… w-we should look into what kind of breed you want. How much time are you willing to put into grooming and… and exercise. Things like that…?”

Katelynn hadn’t really considered it, seeing as how she knew she wanted a dog and that was it. Roxy was cute, that was for sure, and seemed easy enough to manage. “Well..I work..and photograph..and I’m out a lot and only hang out in my apartment to hang up photo’s or update my blog..so I guess I need something with shorter hair. Food and exercise isn’t a problem though,” she replied, smiling at him softly.

“Also depends on what they’ve got. You can’t be picky when you go to a shelter.” Jack adds. “Something small, short hair… how about a poodle? They’re really good, they don’t shed, are good guard dogs too…?” he offered. 

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

Jack watched her give the homeless man her hat and scarf.

He oddly didn’t think of anything.

Then she returned, and said something about a dog. Was she replacing a baby with a dog? Was that it? A dog would be easier to look after make no mistake. Yet his heart gave a painful beat again. You’re not a father. You may never be one. Get used to that feeling of disappointment. You should be used to it by now.

“A dog?” he asked quietly. “That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Jack smiles faintly. “Our house allows pets, and you might be good with someone for company when I’m not around. But it would have to be a small breed, l-like Roxy is. The apartment isn’t built for big dogs…” he takes her hand into his, beginning to lead her down the street, grateful of the touch.

“Maybe we could visit the shelter my uncle works at, where I got Roxy?”

Holding his hand in hers, she was grateful for his support, trying to squash down her own feelings from hearing the news. She wondered about him though, seeing that he wasn’t exactly bouncing for joy as she would have thought. He should be relieved right?

“S-Sounds like a good idea,” she replied, following after him. “Too bad about the big dog though..I’ve always wanted a bigger dog.”

“It’d be mean to get a big dog when you have a small apartment.” Jack told her gently as they walked down the street, his hand holding hers tightly. “They need room to move. Smaller dogs not so much… w-we should look into what kind of breed you want. How much time are you willing to put into grooming and… and exercise. Things like that…?”

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

Jack mutely thanked the nurse as well and soon the two were out in the city again, walking back towards their apartment. His hands were settled against his sides, unsure of what to do with them.

Talk.

“S-so I guess… that. That’s not something we’ll have to worry about then, huh?” he asked quietly. “Is it a relief…?”

“Y-Yeah..” she whispered, passing store fronts of bakeries and clothing stores, watching the people as they walked about, even seeing a hobo on the street trying to keep warm.

She knew it wasn’t much but she walked over to him and gave him her scarf and hat, hoping he would be warm. She would have given her jacket but she doubted it would have fit him.

Tiny barks distracted her as she looked up, seeing a pet store nearby. A pet. Katelynn had always wanted a dog. Jack had said he got Roxy from the pound, didn’t he? That someone in his family worked there.

Giving the homeless man a smile, she walked back over to Jack and said, “I think..I want a dog..”

Jack watched her give the homeless man her hat and scarf.

He oddly didn’t think of anything.

Then she returned, and said something about a dog. Was she replacing a baby with a dog? Was that it? A dog would be easier to look after make no mistake. Yet his heart gave a painful beat again. You’re not a father. You may never be one. Get used to that feeling of disappointment. You should be used to it by now.

“A dog?” he asked quietly. “That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Jack smiles faintly. “Our house allows pets, and you might be good with someone for company when I’m not around. But it would have to be a small breed, l-like Roxy is. The apartment isn’t built for big dogs…” he takes her hand into his, beginning to lead her down the street, grateful of the touch.

“Maybe we could visit the shelter my uncle works at, where I got Roxy?”

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

Jack didn’t know what to think, and his mind seemed to block out as the nurse talked to them about various other means of protection during sex, but he wasn’t listening.

She wasn’t pregnant.

He hated to admit it but disappointed washed over him. Had so much of him been hoping that she’d be pregnant? That was horrible of him. Absolutely horrible. They couldn’t afford a child, Katelynn wasn’t emotionally fit to have a baby, she was so shy and uncertain of herself bringing a child into her life might give her that depression some mothers had when they were scared, unsure of what to do with themselves once the baby arrived. Their lives would have been turned upside down.

But he would have been able to hold a baby again. His baby. He probably would have spoiled it rotten with his love which is hardly good but oh my god he would have loved it to the moon and back and now it just wasn’t there.

He wasn’t going to be a father.

Most men his age would be celebrating this fact. Going out for a beer. Or something.

Jack just sat there.

“…and that’s more or less it.” the nurse ended her little helpful talk. “You two just need to be a bit more careful. When the time comes and you want to try for a baby you just need to ease off the pills Katelynn, and you can both try again.”

She nodded at the nurse, face blank, glad the nurse wasn’t telling her that Jack and herself were too different genetically and could never have kids. That meant it was still possible for the future, right?

God she hoped so.

Katelynn stood up when the nurse did, shaking her hand and thanking her, willing herself not to think of the empty apartment waiting for her filled with pictures that wouldn’t hear the gentle cooing of a baby. She tried so hard not to.

“Thank you again,” she said, exiting the office and trying not to look at anyone as she left the clinic, her hand in fists as she tried not to cry over the news.

Jack mutely thanked the nurse as well and soon the two were out in the city again, walking back towards their apartment. His hands were settled against his sides, unsure of what to do with them.

Talk.

“S-so I guess… that. That’s not something we’ll have to worry about then, huh?” he asked quietly. “Is it a relief…?”

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

Jack got up too, of course he did, and avoided the little boy as well as his mother who apologized but he said ‘no harm’ and slipped into the room after Katelynn. They both found a seat besides the nurses desk, the room smothered in those medical posters that always made Jack feel so uncomfortable. He shifted in his seat.

“Well thank you for coming and I’m sorry about how long it took to get back to you, we’re normally more efficient but it being the holiday season a lot of our girls are still on break.” the nurse said as she opened up a file. 

“Now we have the blood test results to check whether or not you’re pregnant.” she said, and Jack was so dang grateful she didn’t try to leave them hanging with small talk at all since she got right to it. 

“You’re not pregnant.”

At first she hadn’t heard the words, merely staring at the nurse a moment and trying to register through her nerves that her lips were moving. Blood pounded in her ears, making it that much harder to hear.

But when the words finally penetrated through her mind, Katelynn felt a bit of a weight fall off her shoulders and settle in her stomach instead. Not pregnant. She wasn’t pregnant.

“O-Oh…” was all she could say, looking down at the stomach she had begun to talk to, now knowing no one was there to listen.

She felt both relieved and hollow. Grace had told her motherhood was a wonderful experience and she congratulated her while Roxanne had been freaking out over the fact that she might be. Katelynn wouldn’t be joining them in motherhood after all.

But at the same time that was great, wasn’t it? No responsibility, no worry over being a terrible mother, more chances to be around other children and see how she did before having one of her own.

“Th-Thank you..” She answered after a time, looking at the nurse before looking at a spot on the floor.

Jack didn’t know what to think, and his mind seemed to block out as the nurse talked to them about various other means of protection during sex, but he wasn’t listening.

She wasn’t pregnant.

He hated to admit it but disappointed washed over him. Had so much of him been hoping that she’d be pregnant? That was horrible of him. Absolutely horrible. They couldn’t afford a child, Katelynn wasn’t emotionally fit to have a baby, she was so shy and uncertain of herself bringing a child into her life might give her that depression some mothers had when they were scared, unsure of what to do with themselves once the baby arrived. Their lives would have been turned upside down.

But he would have been able to hold a baby again. His baby. He probably would have spoiled it rotten with his love which is hardly good but oh my god he would have loved it to the moon and back and now it just wasn’t there.

He wasn’t going to be a father.

Most men his age would be celebrating this fact. Going out for a beer. Or something.

Jack just sat there.

“…and that’s more or less it.” the nurse ended her little helpful talk. “You two just need to be a bit more careful. When the time comes and you want to try for a baby you just need to ease off the pills Katelynn, and you can both try again.”

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

Jack was watching the children too with an apprehensive look. He never had been around children until he was six, the age most children were when they went to school for the first time. And it hadn’t been nice. Not at all. The blue alien watched them play and shriek before scratching at his chin.

A pencil thin mustache had been beginning to crop on his upper lip ever since they’d visited his family home. Why was he growing a mustache, to look a little different to other Megaminds? It was hard to tell.

Before she could ask him a nurse appeared. “Katelynn Foster?”

“Y-Yes?” she looked up quickly, feeling her heart beat increase as she stood up and watched the nurse motion her with her head to follow them. She tried to breath, tried to move, and let out a deep sigh, blushing when she noticed some of the women looking at her and give her sympathy looks.

Here goes.

She followed the nurse inside toward the doctor’s office, trying to avoid barreling into a child on the way as he made his exit, his mother following close behind.

Jack got up too, of course he did, and avoided the little boy as well as his mother who apologized but he said ‘no harm’ and slipped into the room after Katelynn. They both found a seat besides the nurses desk, the room smothered in those medical posters that always made Jack feel so uncomfortable. He shifted in his seat.

“Well thank you for coming and I’m sorry about how long it took to get back to you, we’re normally more efficient but it being the holiday season a lot of our girls are still on break.” the nurse said as she opened up a file. 

“Now we have the blood test results to check whether or not you’re pregnant.” she said, and Jack was so dang grateful she didn’t try to leave them hanging with small talk at all since she got right to it. 

“You’re not pregnant.”

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

“I know… I’m nervous too.” he admitted, holding her hand tightly in his own as they walked down the street. “I mean. It’s a big thing. B-but let’s just. See what the doctor says, all right?”

Walking closer to him until she was snuggled up to his side, she smiled, the clinic not to far away from where they lived. “All right..”

Butterflies ate away at her stomach, leaving her no rest or room for food. Please..let things be okay..

They walked in silence, and when the clinic appeared Jack felt the nerves rush at him and felt like they could knock him over like a rugby player. But, he powered on, walking Katelynn inside and told them they had an appointment.

“Yes do take a seat the doctor will be with you shortly.” the receptionist said.

So they sat.