Six one shots

Three becomes four

"Auntie Anna! Auntie Anna where mommy and mama go?" Anna yawns as she sits up from lying on the couch and looks at Elizabeth who was crying.
"Mommy's in the hospital remember? She's having a baby and mama went with her to keep her company" she says and Elizabeth sniffles.
"But I want mommy and mama" she whines and Anna smiles.
"Well they'll be home in a while. They just went for an appointment"
"When?"
"Any minute now. Let's get you ready for lunch" Jane says, leading her out of the room to help her use the potty and wash her hands. She had been asked to be Elizabeth's godmother, Kitty being the other one, Catherine was 'nana' and Anna was 'auntie Anna'  the ladies in waiting were considered aunties too which they adored. She had just begun put Elizabeth into her booster seat when the door opens and Elizabeth immediately wriggles down and runs out to Anne and Cathy. She's brought back by Anne while Cathy sits down rubbing her stomach.
"This little one is getting big. We found out the gender today" she says and everyone shrieks excitedly, waking Edward and making him cry while Elizabeth covers her ears and starts crying too. Anne sits her on her lap and rocks her gently, rubbing her back. Mary just looks up from her phone confused.
"What's going on?"
"Me and Cathy are having a girl!" Anne says happily and Elizabeth gasps.
"But I wanna be only girl!"
"You're still gonna be our special little girl bubby. Don't worry" Anne coos, resting her chin on top of Elizabeth's head.

A few months later

Anne wakes up to Cathy slapping her arm and crying out in pain.
"Anne. It's time" she hisses and Anne jumps up, waking Anna to tell her to watch Elizabeth before grabbing the bag Cathy had packed and helping her to the car.
"Keep breathing babe. Just like we practiced in all those birthing classes" she says and Cathy just nods, taking deep breaths.

A few hours later

38 hours later Mae Maude Parr-Boleyn was born. The others came to visit with gifts and Elizabeth comes in carrying a blue stuffed frog in one arm and her favourite teddy, a green frog, in the other.
"The lady asked if it was for her brother and when she said sister she was told blue was a boys colour and well Anne, she has your spark and Cathys stance on fuck stereotypes about gender because you know what she said?" Anna says and Elizabeth smiles.
"I said my mommy likes blue bestest of all and that blue is an everyone colour cuz girls wore blue years ago cuz people thought it wasn't a tough colour and that my mommy told me so"
"She also told the lady she should remember girls always wearing blue because of it not being seen as a tough colour" Kitty snickers and Anne cracks up.
"I got dis for Mae with the monies I was gonna save for a puppy" she says, putting the frog beside Cathy who smiles and hands Mae to Anne so she could hoist the toddler onto the bed.
"We'll leave you four be" Catherine says, smiling and shooing the others out.
"Bubby this is your sister. Wanna say hi?" Anne says, sitting down so Elizabeth could see mae properly.
"Hi Mae! I can't wait for you to be a bit bigger so we can play together. We're gonna be bestest friends" Cathy chuckles at this and ruffles Elizabeth's hair.
"Well I'm glad you're happy to be a big sister bubby" Anne says, kissing the top of Elizabeth's head.
"Wanna hold her?" Cathy asks and Elizabeth nods.
"Auntie Janey showed me how to hold a baby with my dollies" she says proudly, getting into position to hold Mae. Anne carefully hands Mae to her and helps her hold her while a nurse who had come in takes a photo.
"How about we give Mae back to mommy now and I can give you a huge cuddle?" Anne suggests and Elizabeth nods. Cathy takes Mae and Anne hoists Elizabeth up and sits on the bed beside Cathy, her baby snuggled up to her. The nurse takes one more photo of them and then puts the camera down and leaves. Elizabeth was sucking her thumb and clinging to Anne's shirt with her free hand.
"Hey it's okay. We're all together now. Me, mama, you and Mae" Cathy coos, shifting Mae to one arm to gently stroke Elizabeth's hair.
"Can we swap? I wanna give Lizzie some cuddles too" Cathy says and Anne nods, taking Mae while Elizabeth clambers into Cathy's arms with a yawn.
"Looks like someone needs a nap. This little one just put herself to sleep" Anne chuckles, nodding to Mae.
"No wanna stay up with mommy and mama" Elizabeth mumbles, taking her thumb out of her mouth to pout.
"Okay but I think I know what we need to do now" Anne says, putting Mae into the weird hospital cot thing and sitting on the bed.
"What?"
"Cuddle sandwich" Anne smiles when Elizabeth starts giggling as she and Cathy both cuddle her.
"Why don't we watch a movie and have something to eat?" Cathy whispers and Anne smiles, nodding to Elizabeth who had fallen asleep.
"It can wait then. I love you Anne"
"I love you too Cathy" Anne whispers, kissing her and smiling. Everything was perfect now.