Soulmates and Exceptions #Wattys2016

Bonus #4: Poolside

A/N: This takes place in the present-day portion of chapter 2: School. It's the conversation that Spencer and Jackson have in the pool.

    Satisfied with how things were set in the kitchen, Brea joined Jackson and Spencer on the patio, taking a seat in the lounger as they swam around and chatted.

     Spencer dove under, only to pop his head up on the side of the pool closest to Brea. "Are you going to join us? The water's great."

     She smiled, shaking her head. She was going to pass on swimming for now. She was enjoying reminiscing as she relaxed in the sun. "I'm not really feeling like it Spence. I just feel like being lazy for a bit, before our parents come over." She wasn't quite ready to admit how tired she'd been feeling lately.

     "Suit yourself, but you don't know what you're missing!" He flexed his arm at her, flashing her a cheesy grin before he swam away towards Jackson. The brothers then grabbed onto the wall, engaging themselves in a deep conversation.

***

     "Hey Jacks?" His brother looked over towards him.

     "What's up? Is Brea not joining us?"

     "She said that she 'doesn't really feel like it' right now. Do you think she's feeling okay?"

     Jackson looked over at Brea. She was stretched out on a lounger, wearing her loose-flowing bathing suit cover. He assumed she had her bathing suit on underneath, but she hadn't taken the cover up off since she'd been outside, so he had merely guessed she had worn it. "Maybe she's tired?" Jackson finally offered his brother. "She has been unpacking everything while we've been working. Then there's her job at the preschool."

     "She does seem tired, but something feels off." He rubbed the mark on his chest. "Have you noticed that she's been nervous and excited a lot lately?"

     Jackson frowned. "I've just attributed it to the move and planning tonight's dinner for our parents." He thought some more. "She's been really happy."

     Spencer watched Brea as she stretched on the lounger. "Do you think she could be pregnant?"

     "It would explain why she's been really tired lately." The older brother replied. "Every day, when I get home, she's fast asleep, and I can't seem to wake her up. Then again, it could be from sorting everything in the house and all of the housework. She's also been working with the kids at the preschool a couple of blocks over. That alone would tire anyone out."

     "Have you asked her?" Spencer probed.

     "No. I figure if she was, she'd want to make sure, then tell us." Spencer wasn't convinced. "Spence, if she is, she'd tell us as soon as she knew for sure. It's what she did the last time..." He scratched the back of his neck. "But I don't think she is – I mean, I don't think she looks pregnant. I mean, every time, recently, we've..." Jackson coughed, "Yeah...I haven't noticed anything really different. I mean, she's gained a little bit of weight since we've moved, but that's expected once you move out on your own. We all have gained a little weight...Rose taught her how to cook all of the stuff we like."

     He smirked. "Like you, there are, ahem, times when I've noticed that she's gotten a little more meat on her – not that I'm complaining," he wiggled his eyebrows at Jackson, "but you're probably right and it's because we're on our own. Brea does like to cook our favorite things to see us both happy, I'll give you that."

     "Spence?" His voice grew serious.

     "Yeah, Jacks?"

     "If Brea were to be pregnant, would you want to know which of us...?" His voice trailed.

     "No, and I'll tell you why." The younger brother answered quickly. "Reason number one: Because we all live together. Reason number two: Because we both love Brea. And Reason number three: Because we'd both be great dads."

     Jackson grinned at his brother. "I was hoping you wouldn't. I would think that if we knew, we'd have this kind of divide in our family. I'd rather approach parenting like we've done everything else, together."

     "We don't even know if she is or not." Spencer added.

     "I kind of hope she is..." Jackson mused. "From what I've heard, when she does become pregnant, her -" He used his hands to gesture in front of his chest, "get bigger too."

     "Jeesh, Jacks. Breast man much?" He arched an eyebrow at his sibling.

     "You can't honestly tell me that you'd be opposed to watching that change in her body."

     "I never said that I'd be opposed, Jacks." He smirked again. "I just happen to think I'd be able to be more discreet in my appreciation than you would."

     "Seriously, I hope she is pregnant. She'd make an incredible mom." Jackson looked wistfully at Brea.

     "She'd be a fantastic mom to our kids. You're right, I don't think she is pregnant - if she was, she would have told us by now." Spencer bit his lip. "We can always keep trying."

     "And you accuse me of having only one thought when it comes to Brea." Jackson laughed and splashed his brother. Spencer responded by attempting to dunk Jackson into the water. "Spence, are you trying to dunk me? I've easily got a half a foot on you!"

     Spencer winced. "Yeah, I didn't think this one through too well..." Jackson dunked his smaller, younger brother into the pool before swimming off.