World Tour

Brisbane: Belle I

Eddy's heart fell out of his chest and through the floorboards. What?! He looked at Brett, who looked like he was about to pass out.
¨Belle... what?!¨ was all he managed to say.
She sighed, trying to get herself together, and when she spoke she spoke calmly and softly, but there was resolve in her tone.
¨Right. So, I've been thinking about it a lot. I've been talking to mum as well. I know I told you I never wanted to be pregnant and that was true. But... Eddy, you're my brother. And if I do this, you'll have a child that's yours biologically, or at least as close as possible. So I'm going to do it. It's a small price to pay for you guys' happiness.¨
Eddy was usually pretty articulate, but the power of speech seemed to have deserted him completely. He just stared at Belle, mouth agape, while Brett moved to stand close to him and took his hand as if it were a life line. 
The silence stretched as Eddy looked for words. Belle was looking calmer, now that she had said what she needed to say. Eddy didn't even need to look at Brett to know how shook he was. 
¨Belle... I... we...¨ He shook his head and finally he whispered:
¨You didn't want to ever be pregnant, Belle. You shuddered. I can't let you go through that for us.¨
That statement earned him a Belle special patented grin.
¨I 'shuddered', did I?¨
Eddy just nodded. 
¨Well, big brother, you've known me for a while. How often have I decided something for any other reason than my own sense of what's right or wrong?¨
Eddy grinned despite himself, his mind flicking back to all the times Belle had got in trouble at home for doing exactly what Belle wanted, irregardless of their parents opinions on the matter. 
Yet, she was always so charming about it that somehow she got away with it. 
He'd also never known her to come back to a decision and she had been his champion when he decided to study music, telling him he should follow his own heart. 
But to let her go through this? A whole pregnancy? Something she'd never ever wanted? Just so that they could have a baby? It felt amazingly selfish.
With her uncanny ability to read his mind she said:
¨You think you'd be selfish, right, to let me do this?¨
¨Yeah, very much so.¨ Eddy said, his tone serious. 
¨Well, I happen to think it would be incredibly selfish of me to not do it. I mean, come on, it's just a few months. And I may not want to be a mum, but I'd love to be an auntie and spoil the child rotten, so there's something in it for me as well.¨
She looked straight at them both.
¨My mind's made up, guys. So unless you decide you don't want me, this is happening.¨
At that moment Brett surprised them both by suddenly lurching forward and pulling Belle in a giant bear hug. 
¨Thank you¨, he whispered fervently. 
Eddy walked to them and put his arms around them both. 
¨I love you, sis, so much.¨ 

After a while Eddy backed away and sat down on the couch and the others followed him. Eddy still couldn't quite believe what had just happened. 
¨Well,¨ Eddy said softly, ¨first of all I think we should take a few weeks. Look, Belle, I think I speak for both of us when I tell you how ridiculously grateful we are. I'd still like you to take some time though, to make sure that you're sure. We should also do the research on how, when, and talk about all the details.¨
Belle nodded. ¨We'll have to draw up a contract. I'd like to go the non-medical route if possible. We could do it here, if you want. But you guys should talk about how you want to do it.¨
Eddy smiled. He could have known Belle would have done her research already. 
¨Right,¨ Belle said suddenly, getting up from the couch. ¨Imma head off, okay? I'm sure you guys have a lot to talk about.¨
She smiled, kissed Eddy on the top of his head, gave Brett a quick squeeze of the shoulder and walked out, leaving two speechless men behind. Eddy pulled Brett to him and held him, and Brett snuggled his head deeply into Eddy's chest. They sat there without words for the longest time.