Call Your Girlfriend

Part 35: In Which Max and Helen Co-Parent

The flight went way better than Helen and I could have expected. Neither Sylas nor Elowyn cried during the flight, they ate well and didn't fuss at all. I'm beyond baffled to be honest. When I picked up Luna, Iggy was at the car quicker than shit to see the babies. Much to his surprise he found the twins and when Martin came out- Iggy was begging him for another baby. We ended up back at Helen's home and Luna has been keeping her distance.

"Lu, come look. Come see the babies." Helen calls sweetly to her. Luna crawls across the carpet to Helen, who has both babies in her arms. Luna slows down however -the closer she gets and the more she realizes that they are real and not pretend. "Luna...come here, Munchkin."

Helen calls again and Luna remains a few feet away sucking on her pacifier that's attached to the clip on her shirt. I can see Helen's face drop. She feels like she betrayed Luna. She feels like Luna doesn't want anything to do with her. I see the light slowly dull in Helen's eyes.

"Luna, come on." I pick her up and go towards Helen. Sitting down beside her on the carpet, I hold Luna and show her the babies. She looks at them and then at Helen and the saddest thing I've ever witnessed happens. She sticks her little lip out and it starts to quiver and it only gets worse when she sees Elowyn move.

"Oh, no, Luna don't. Don't cry, please." Helen tried to calm the child and it's too late. Luna starts crying hysterically. I watch Helen's heart break and now she is on the verge of crying too.

"Alright, hold on. Hey now....hey, Luna. You love babies. Come on- Missy, don't cry." Her little lips keeps on quivering and she has her back to Helen as if she doesn't want to see her. Helen shakes her head and she tries to fight back her tears, but they slowly escape. "No, Helen, Huh, it's alright. This is all just...new for her."

Luna gets off my lap and starts crawling away. Helen starts crying and I drop my head. This is hard. For everyone. I take Elowyn from Helen and hold her.

"Luna...come here, baby girl. Come here." I call to her. Luna turns and puts the pacifier in her mouth. She looks and slowly crawls back over. She gazes between Helen and I. Weighing her options. She sits down and watches each baby from a far. Sylas yawns and Elowyn wiggles her arms. Luna looks between me and Helen. Helen can barely compose herself and my heart is breaking just as much as hers is. Looking at the carriers, Luna crawls over to one and examines it. Thrumming her little fingers on the cushioned seat, she looks back at us and makes a 'Huh' sounds through her pacifier. Then that stinker crawls right up in that carrier and sits down. "Luna..."

"Lu...." Helen sadly says and the next thing just makes me giggle. Taking her little hand, Luna moves her fingers in an almost come here motion, but she turns her little wrist while she does it. "Luna?"

She does it again and Helen looks at me before slowly scooting over to Luna with Sylas. Slowly and gently, Helen places the baby in Luna's left side, gently cradling his head against Luna's arm. Helen sits back a bit and Luna sucks on her pacifier and examines Sylas with her right hand. She gently touches his cheeks and hat and tummy. She makes little 'Huh' sounds as she checks him over. She looks up at Helen.

"That's Sylas." Helen quietly says.

"Huh..." Luna coos and taps her little fingers against his tummy. I can see her smiling just a bit under her pacifier. "Huh..."

She looks passed Helen towards me and 'Huh's again and makes the same come here gesture. Smiling, I scoot closer and lay Elowyn in her right side and makes sure her necks supported. Luna looks between Sylas and Elowyn and 'Huh's some more before looking up at us, her little fingers just barely able to tap on both babies.

"That's Elowyn." Elowyn looks up at Luna and yawns, but then smiles.

"Huh..." Luna looks at Sylas, who yawns and snuggles closer into Luna. She seems so content, with both babies in her possession. I pull Helen close to me.