The Queen & The King

Did She Say Dad?

"Rarity!" Benjamin yelled up the stairs, obviously in desperate need. His tone full of fright and uncertainty what to do next.

I had only been upstairs for half a minute. It was hard to believe something could go wrong in such a sort amount of time. But then again, he was just getting the hang of this.

Most adults read parenting books before having children. Benjamin decided he would wing it. When I told him there was nothing wrong with taking parenting classes, he went on about how that took away half the mystery. He wanted to grow as a father while the baby got bigger.

"What is it, Bennie?" I walked over to the top of the stairs to see my husband in boxer briefs.

"It," his voice wobbled, "it won't stop."

He stretched the fussy little girl out as far as possible. Her round face blotched red and nose scrunched. It amazes me how loud she could scream.

The whole world seem to shake underneath our feet whenever she freaked. Thankfully, during the night, she slept peacefully. Mornings, on the other hand, were a total headache.

Unlike how Blake acted, she made her opinion known. Whether it was over the baby food we feed her or the onesies she wore, she found a way to sound her disapproval. Benjamin's thinks she gets this from me.

"Oh princess, did Daddy make you mad?" I coo'ed while scooping her into my arms. She easily calmed down and dug her face into my chest.

Benjamin's jaw dropped. He looked between me and Dinah before releasing a loud groan. "What am I doing wrong!"

"Everything," I teased as Dinah begun to play with the silver band on my finger. Her little mind fascinated by the way it shined under the light.

"Really? You think?" Benjamin asked in fright.

I rolled my eyes and laid a hand on his cheek. The fresh stumble ticklish underneath my finger-tips. He definitely needed to shave.

"Of course not, I'm just giving you shit." I consoled, patting his cheek. "You're doing just fine as a new parent."

He shook his head, "no. I need to try harder. You were only a teen when you raised Blake and you did better than I am doing."

I wanted to laugh. That was so not true. Blake knew how to cuss before he could walk and rather than have a stable unit he had a very loose one. We never stayed in one place too long and he considered that to be normal.

"Bennie, if you try any harder she'll grow up to be co-dependent on you."

"So?" He questioned as he glanced down to Dinah.

She stopped messing with my ring then met his gentle stare. Her little lips forming into the shape of an 'O' before stretching out to grasp him.

"Do you want our daughter to live with us forever?"

He didn't respond. Dinah tried her hardest to reach him. Her chubby fingers wiggling. Her big blue eyes basically begging Benjamin to come closer.

He obeyed. He took one step forwarded and she smacked a palm onto his chest, "dah."

It was as if he heard the most greatest news in the world. His smile grew wide. "Did you hear that!"

I rose an eyebrow in confusion. What was he freaking out about? She just made her usually baby sounds.

"She said dad, Rarity! Dad! She knows who I am!"

Oh no.

He scooped her out of my arms and held her tight to his chest, "you are the most adorable thing ever! You can live with us forever! How does that sound?"

Dinah loving the affection made another noise and Benjamin quickly uplifted her into the air. He ran off, holding her as if she were the grandest prize.

There were a few shouts for everyone to come and hear but I didn't move. I didn't want to witness the others telling him she didn't say dad.

Blake was first to come in from outside. He kicked off his Nike shoes near the screen door and ran to where Benjamin was. A tired expression on his faces.

Benjamin begun to exclaim about the news. The joy was obviously not being shared by Blake. I could hear the annoyance in the eleven year olds tone as he sighed loudly.

"That's great, dad."

"Isn't it!" Benjamin gleamed. He didn't pick up on the sarcasm to preoccupied with the raspberries Dinah blew.

Blake came marching into the living room. His short dark blond hair brushed back and tall lanky figure slouched. As I looked at him, I still couldn't help but see him like he was still that chubby toddler who waddled around in cloth diapers.

Why did they grow up so fast? It felt like it was only yesterday he entered preschool. His cute little face full of curiosity.

Oh god I sound like one of those old soccer moms, my thoughts grumbled causing me to scowl.

The years were definitely catching up with me. At twenty five, I already had a constant ache in the back of my neck and the want to be able to wear sweat pants everywhere. Even while out on missions.

Maxwell, Finn, and Benjamin scolded me on that idea though. But I couldn't understand why. Seriously, who would care if the Lavender Queen went out in Superman sweats?

"Mom!"

Or what if they were Pooh Bear?

"Mom!"

Nah, I'll stick with Superman. They are more comfortable. They have the fuzzy insides.

"Mom!"

"What!" I snapped about ready to rip out my hair. Why did the people in this house always have to yell?

Blake narrowed his eyes at me, "The idiot and his girlfriend are suppose to be here soon. They have news about the adoption."

"Okay?" I questioned unsure why he needed to notify me of their arrival. The house was clean enough to have company and their was a bottle of wine in the fridge.

Blake went ahead up the staircase, "never-"

"Priscilla! Finn! Come hear what Dinah learned to say!" Benjamin called greeting our newly arrived friends happily.

There was a sudden silence before a cackle
broke through while the other realized a loud gasp.

"Dude," Finn snorted with laughter, "where the hell are your clothes?"

In reply tiny Dinah spurred into a spell of giggles and Blake looked down at me with a casual smirk.