My Little Bird | Blue Eyes (Under minor grammatical editing)

Chapter 30

--three weeks later [17 weeks along]--

I sat at breakfast with Blue Eyes and my parents in-law. It was odd to think of them like that, but Cornelia insisted, bless her sweet soul. It was even weirder to think of Haze as my brother in-law, but it was easy to think of the little cutie as family. I was just finishing my celery when I felt something I hadn't yet felt before. I gasped at the startle and my hands flew to my belly. I was showing openly now, and the colony had mostly caught on.

Most were stupefied by the notion that I had been able to conceive, but most came to terms with it and congratulated Blue Eyes and I. Speaking of him, he was at my side immediately, hooting and asking if I was okay. Caesar and Cornelia froze, and the older mother grabbed Haze to keep him quiet and out of the way.

"I-I felt something..." I muttered, staring down at my bump with wide, observant eyes. I gasped again at the abrupt, fluttery feeling that hit me in a certain area. "I think the baby just kicked!" I gasped excitedly.

"What?" Blue Eyes gasped.

He scooted himself next to me and wrapped an arm around my waist, his other hand reaching out toward my belly. His hand hovered over my skin for a moment before he seemed to work up a nerve, and he placed his hand over my baby bump. Only a few short seconds later did I feel another kick, and both of us gasped. My oddball eyes were caught up by Blue Eyes' cerulean orbs, and all I could do was smile at the happiness and excitement that was there. I let out a little 'oh!" when I felt it again, and Blue Eyes' shoulders jumped a little when he gasped.

Haze had wiggled away from Cornelia and came to stand in front of us. He climbed up onto the log I sat on, and gazed between my bump and Blue Eyes and I, seeming perplexed.

"What's happening?" He asked.

"Baby's moving." I signed to him, my smile still not leaving my face. He looked back at my bump, tilted his head and stared. His gaze didn't waver and we all sat in silence, awaiting the child's next move. He finally looked back up at Blue Eyes and I.

"I don't see anything." He signed, looking as confused as he likely felt.

We all giggled at his ignorance. "Give me your hand." I reached out, waiting for him to put his not entirely tiny hand in mine. He tentatively did as I asked, and I drew him over to my belly. I placed his hand on my baby bump, his hand lightly curled into a fist. Very soon I felt the baby kick again, but before I could do it myself, Blue Eyes took his younger brother's hand and guided it to where his had once been.

Haze's face bloomed from a bewildered bud, to a jaw slacked amazement. He stood there for a while, even after the child had stopped kicking for now, his hand sitting on my belly. For a while I wondered if he was holding his breath, but I guessed against it when time continued to move on. When he looked up at me, his gaze shifted between me, Blue Eyes and then to his parents, who sat watching with a fondness and interest in their countenances.

"That's your niece or nephew." I signed when he looked back at me. "You'll be Uncle Haze soon."

The smile that stretched Haze's face would stay in my memory forever. "When can I meet the baby?" He signed energetically.

I laughed at his enthusiasm. "Not for a few months."

"But that's such a long time!" He made a whining face.

"I know." I laughed.

"Why so long?" He asked.

"Baby needs to grow. Not ready for the outside yet." Blue Eyes said.