Clawen • What comes next

|| CHAPTER 43 ||

           

Five months into the pregnancy and Claire was starting to show for real. Not just a small bump, it was getting bigger. Which made all three of them realize how real it actually was. Of course, they knew it was happening the whole time, but actually being able to see it, really opened their eyes.

One night as they ate dinner, Maisie had asked why they didn't want to know the gender. Claire and Owen had looked at each other, not really having a specific reason. It was just a decision they made as they communicated with their eyes in the doctor's office.

"How will you find a name then?" Maisie asked and both adults realized they had to pick a name. They had to agree on a name more importantly, which they both knew was going to be a battle between the two. They worked well together in life or death situations, but big decisions never went well between the two.

Claire let out a frustrated sigh as she realized all this. Owen reached across the table and took a hold of her hand. "Don't worry, we will figure it out. We always do" He said, making his tone much softer at the last part.

"Aren't there like names for both boys and girls?" Maisie then asked and Owen nodded. They could see the girl thinking for a second, before she spoke again. "What if you found a name that fit both a boy and a girl, that you agree on. Then you have a specific name before the baby is born. I mean instead of not knowing what your going to end up calling it" She said, getting more nervous by the end, thinking she might have overstepped her boundaries.

Claire looked over at the girl and smiled sincerely. "That's a really good idea Maisie. It really is!" She told her and the girl brightened up in an instant. Smiling from ear to ear, looking as proud as ever.

Owen nodded, agreeing with Claire. "So, anyone got any ideas?" He asked, looking at both his girls whose expressions turned from smiling to really concentrated. "Alex" Maisie said. Both adults nodded and Claire said. "That's a good one. How about Jamie?" Maisie smiled and looked over at Owen for his reaction. "Both good, there's Ryan as well" He then said. The name seemed to confuse Maisie who furrowed her brows. "Is that for both girls and boys?" She asked and Owen nodded. "Hm, I didn't know that" She then said and went back into thinking mode.

Another minute went by with them suggesting names. Most of them, they all liked but there were a few, which either Claire wasn't a fan of or Owen thought it was a little too much to one gender.

Suddenly Claire's face lit up and Owen couldn't figure out if it was a good or bad expression. Which really said something, what with him having become an expert in reading Claire's expressions.

"Charlie" She then said.

Owen froze in place, staring right back at Claire. "Charlie" He whispered back. Maisie looked between the two for a long time before Owen noticed her confusion. "Charlie was the name of one of my raptors" He said which really cleared things up for Maisie, who then shrugged and said nonchalantly. "I like Charlie". Both adults turned to look at her, to see if she was serious. "Really?" Owen asked nervously. She smiled up at him and said. "Really?" Sounding more honest than any kid he had ever talked to.

Owen looked over at Claire, finding nervous eyes looking back at him. "You really like that name?" He asked. She smiled back at him with a sad smile, finding it extremely adorable that he was so nervous about that name, even though she had been the one to suggest it. "I really do honey" She told him, lighting up his whole face. "Plus, it won't just be a name. It will mean something to us all, especially you" She said smiling at him sincerely.

"So, the baby is going to be named Charlie?" Maisie asked eager to get a final answer. Claire swallowed and Owen asked a last time, just by looking at her. She smiled back at him and whispered. "Yes"