Hera got out of the hospital a couple days later. Since it'd be too difficult for her to use crutches, because of her broken arm, she got to use a wheelchair. Kara said she was terribly depressed now, and blamed herself for her friends' deaths. I visited them often, sometimes with Blake if he wasn't working. It was kind of unnerving to see Hera like that.
She was still bruised and scarred up pretty bad, like she just got out of a brutal fight. The casts and wheelchair made her seem even more fragile than she already was, and her stare was blank; out there. She didn't talk much now either. Before, it was more of a challenge to get her to shut up.
"Do you think you could talk to her?" Kara asked. "I mean, not to be rude or anything, but... you've dealt with deaths of... people..." she said awkwardly. I nodded understandingly.
"Yeah... I don't know if it'll help, but..." I got up from the kitchen table, and went over to Hera, who was wheeled in front of the TV. I put my hand on her good knee. "Hey." She didn't move. Her eyes were fixed on the TV which, in my opinion, was showing nothing of interest. I sighed.
"It's not your fault, Hera," I said quietly. She remained quiet, but somehow I knew she was listening. "It's never anyone's fault for something like this. You can't blame yourself for it." She blinked. I cocked my head a little bit. "What are you thinking about?" She was quiet for a few seconds, then her gaze flickered to the hardwood floor.
"I don't think I can stop," she whispered.
"What do you mean?" I asked. She didn't say anything, then it clicked. "Hera, I know it's hard. But you have to stop. Before it gets even worse." I saw tears well up in her eyes.
"It can get worse than this?" she whispered.
"How long have you....?" I didn't want to say it out loud. Dad and Kara were right in the other room.
"About two weeks. Maybe one every two nights or so?" she said. I nodded.
"It can get way worse. Trust me." Her eyes sparkled with confusion and curiosity. Then Dad came in, and popped down on the couch.
"You don't mind if I change the channel, do you Hera?" he asked, grabbing the remote. She shrugged, not moving her eyes from mine. I patted her knee lightly.
"Another time," I muttered. I stood up. "Ok, I'd better get going." I hugged everyone goodbye, then drove back home.
"How was it?" Blake asked. He got home just a few minutes after me.
"She's starting to go through withdrawal," I said, devastated. This was one of the last things I wanted for my little sister.
"She'll make it through," he said, putting his arms around me.
"I know... But not alone," I said, peering up at him. "I had you."
"Lucky you," he smirked and kissed my nose.
The next week, I had a little surprise. It frightened me at first, then only a little bit afterwards. I was more so excited then. The only thing that worried me was what Blake would say. I stayed at home for a while, contemplating his reactions. Then I decided to let whatever happen happen. It would all work out in the long run, I guess.
He came home in the evening, and sighed.
"I'll start dinner, sweetie. What do you want?" he asked, heading straight to the kitchen.
"I don't care," I said. I felt my face flush, trying to find the words to say. He made chicken and rice, and finished making it in an hour; I still hadn't said anything. He put the food on the table, and took a seat. I grabbed the forks, and handed him his as I took my seat.
When we were done, I was starting to get angry at myself for not saying anything. I just didn't know how to bring it up. I was doing the dishes, and he was helping me, when I finally saw somewhat of an opportunity.
"So, how was your day?" he asked. My face flushed again.
"Ok," I said casually.
"Anything interesting? Did you visit the family today?"
"Uh, I didn't visit today. But..." I paused. He stopped and furrowed his eyebrows.
"But what?" As I looked at him, I couldn't help but smile hugely. I clasped my hands together and held them near my chin. "What?" he chuckled.
"I'm pregnant," I said. The kitchen was quiet for what seemed like ever.
"What," he breathed. I could tell from his tone, he was astonished, but I hoped he was happy about it.
"You're going to be a dad," I grinned. His jaw dropped, and in an instant I was in his arms, and he spun me around in a tight hug.
"Oh my God! Irina! This is wonderful!" he shouted. He kissed me many times, and hugged me tightly. He set me back on the ground, and held my face gently in his hands. "I love you so much." He kissed me again.
"I love you too." This felt like a wonderful dream. I prayed that I wouldn't wake up all of a sudden. I buried my face in his shirt, and closed my eyes.
The next day, the both of us went to Dad's house to tell them the news. None of them were suspicious at all. All of us sat on the couches, talking.
"So," Dad sighed. "Anything new with either of you?" He put his arms behind his head and leaned back casually. I looked at Blake, and he smiled.
"Well... We're having a baby," I smiled. If Dad had been drinking something, I'm sure he would've done a spit take right now.
"What?!" he shouted.
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Kara smiled.
"Awesome!" Hera said.
"You mean, I'm going to be a grandpa?" Dad asked, still stunned. I grinned and nodded. "Oh my... Honey, that's great!" He stood up and hugged me, and gave Blake a "manly" hug. Desiree folded her arms and furrowed her eyebrows.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Kara asked. Desiree studied me for a while.
"But she's not fat!" she said. "How could a baby be in there?"
"Because the baby has to grow bigger," Kara explained casually.
"How'd it get in her tummy?" she asked. Oh God. The room got so awkward, you could almost see the awkwardness.
"Care to explain?" Hera asked, looking at Dad. He frowned. There was another awkward silence.
"What?" Desiree asked. "Why'd everyone get do quiet?" Kara patted her head.
"Why don't you go get a snack, Honey."
"Well," Blake said. "Uh, do you want to go to my parents...?" I nodded. Anything to get out of this situation.
"Bye guys," I said. I hugged everyone.
"Congratulations," Dad and Kara said.
We drove about an hour to Blake's parents house. His older sister, Victoria, was staying there with her husband and their kids. I'd only met Victoria and her family a couple times; they live in Indiana. Her and her husband, Lucas have two kids. Two girls, named Claire and Wendy. They're four and two.
Blake's little brother Chase wasn't there; he was already off at college. He'd graduated with Hera, and wasted no time going off on his own way. His little sister Sara was there though, now sixteen years old.
"Hey guys!" she said, giving us both hugs.
"Hey, Sara. Is Mom and Dad home?" Blake asked. She nodded. There was crying from the living room. She sighed.
"Victoria's still here too. Only three more days, then it'll finally be quiet again. C'mon," she said, guiding us to where everyone else was hanging out.
"Oh, hello!" My mother-in-law smiled from the couch. She balanced little baby Claire on her knee, while Wendy played with her hair. My father-in-law smiled and waved.
"Hi Irina!" Victoria smiled. She hugged me, and I said hi to her and her husband.
"What brings you here?" Father asked.
"Well, we kind of, well, not kind of... Uh, we have news to share," Blake stuttered.
"And what would that be?" Mother asked, peaked with interest. Blake took a deep breath.
"We're having a baby." Everyone cheered, and hugged us.
"That's so cool!" Sara said. "Wait till Chase finds out!"
"Oh, you'll both make wonderful parents!" Victoria grinned. She smiled at me. "If you need anything, just give us a call." I nodded and smiled back. We stayed for only a little bit; it started to get late.
"Have a safe drive home!" Mother called from the porch.
"Well, no offense, but that was better than your house," Blake said. I laughed, remembering what Desiree said. I sighed, tired from the day. We went straight to bed when we got home. I could barely sleep still; I was so excited. Only nine months, I thought, then I'd be holding my little baby. I curled up closer to Blake, and closed my eyes.
She was still bruised and scarred up pretty bad, like she just got out of a brutal fight. The casts and wheelchair made her seem even more fragile than she already was, and her stare was blank; out there. She didn't talk much now either. Before, it was more of a challenge to get her to shut up.
"Do you think you could talk to her?" Kara asked. "I mean, not to be rude or anything, but... you've dealt with deaths of... people..." she said awkwardly. I nodded understandingly.
"Yeah... I don't know if it'll help, but..." I got up from the kitchen table, and went over to Hera, who was wheeled in front of the TV. I put my hand on her good knee. "Hey." She didn't move. Her eyes were fixed on the TV which, in my opinion, was showing nothing of interest. I sighed.
"It's not your fault, Hera," I said quietly. She remained quiet, but somehow I knew she was listening. "It's never anyone's fault for something like this. You can't blame yourself for it." She blinked. I cocked my head a little bit. "What are you thinking about?" She was quiet for a few seconds, then her gaze flickered to the hardwood floor.
"I don't think I can stop," she whispered.
"What do you mean?" I asked. She didn't say anything, then it clicked. "Hera, I know it's hard. But you have to stop. Before it gets even worse." I saw tears well up in her eyes.
"It can get worse than this?" she whispered.
"How long have you....?" I didn't want to say it out loud. Dad and Kara were right in the other room.
"About two weeks. Maybe one every two nights or so?" she said. I nodded.
"It can get way worse. Trust me." Her eyes sparkled with confusion and curiosity. Then Dad came in, and popped down on the couch.
"You don't mind if I change the channel, do you Hera?" he asked, grabbing the remote. She shrugged, not moving her eyes from mine. I patted her knee lightly.
"Another time," I muttered. I stood up. "Ok, I'd better get going." I hugged everyone goodbye, then drove back home.
"How was it?" Blake asked. He got home just a few minutes after me.
"She's starting to go through withdrawal," I said, devastated. This was one of the last things I wanted for my little sister.
"She'll make it through," he said, putting his arms around me.
"I know... But not alone," I said, peering up at him. "I had you."
"Lucky you," he smirked and kissed my nose.
The next week, I had a little surprise. It frightened me at first, then only a little bit afterwards. I was more so excited then. The only thing that worried me was what Blake would say. I stayed at home for a while, contemplating his reactions. Then I decided to let whatever happen happen. It would all work out in the long run, I guess.
He came home in the evening, and sighed.
"I'll start dinner, sweetie. What do you want?" he asked, heading straight to the kitchen.
"I don't care," I said. I felt my face flush, trying to find the words to say. He made chicken and rice, and finished making it in an hour; I still hadn't said anything. He put the food on the table, and took a seat. I grabbed the forks, and handed him his as I took my seat.
When we were done, I was starting to get angry at myself for not saying anything. I just didn't know how to bring it up. I was doing the dishes, and he was helping me, when I finally saw somewhat of an opportunity.
"So, how was your day?" he asked. My face flushed again.
"Ok," I said casually.
"Anything interesting? Did you visit the family today?"
"Uh, I didn't visit today. But..." I paused. He stopped and furrowed his eyebrows.
"But what?" As I looked at him, I couldn't help but smile hugely. I clasped my hands together and held them near my chin. "What?" he chuckled.
"I'm pregnant," I said. The kitchen was quiet for what seemed like ever.
"What," he breathed. I could tell from his tone, he was astonished, but I hoped he was happy about it.
"You're going to be a dad," I grinned. His jaw dropped, and in an instant I was in his arms, and he spun me around in a tight hug.
"Oh my God! Irina! This is wonderful!" he shouted. He kissed me many times, and hugged me tightly. He set me back on the ground, and held my face gently in his hands. "I love you so much." He kissed me again.
"I love you too." This felt like a wonderful dream. I prayed that I wouldn't wake up all of a sudden. I buried my face in his shirt, and closed my eyes.
The next day, the both of us went to Dad's house to tell them the news. None of them were suspicious at all. All of us sat on the couches, talking.
"So," Dad sighed. "Anything new with either of you?" He put his arms behind his head and leaned back casually. I looked at Blake, and he smiled.
"Well... We're having a baby," I smiled. If Dad had been drinking something, I'm sure he would've done a spit take right now.
"What?!" he shouted.
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Kara smiled.
"Awesome!" Hera said.
"You mean, I'm going to be a grandpa?" Dad asked, still stunned. I grinned and nodded. "Oh my... Honey, that's great!" He stood up and hugged me, and gave Blake a "manly" hug. Desiree folded her arms and furrowed her eyebrows.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Kara asked. Desiree studied me for a while.
"But she's not fat!" she said. "How could a baby be in there?"
"Because the baby has to grow bigger," Kara explained casually.
"How'd it get in her tummy?" she asked. Oh God. The room got so awkward, you could almost see the awkwardness.
"Care to explain?" Hera asked, looking at Dad. He frowned. There was another awkward silence.
"What?" Desiree asked. "Why'd everyone get do quiet?" Kara patted her head.
"Why don't you go get a snack, Honey."
"Well," Blake said. "Uh, do you want to go to my parents...?" I nodded. Anything to get out of this situation.
"Bye guys," I said. I hugged everyone.
"Congratulations," Dad and Kara said.
We drove about an hour to Blake's parents house. His older sister, Victoria, was staying there with her husband and their kids. I'd only met Victoria and her family a couple times; they live in Indiana. Her and her husband, Lucas have two kids. Two girls, named Claire and Wendy. They're four and two.
Blake's little brother Chase wasn't there; he was already off at college. He'd graduated with Hera, and wasted no time going off on his own way. His little sister Sara was there though, now sixteen years old.
"Hey guys!" she said, giving us both hugs.
"Hey, Sara. Is Mom and Dad home?" Blake asked. She nodded. There was crying from the living room. She sighed.
"Victoria's still here too. Only three more days, then it'll finally be quiet again. C'mon," she said, guiding us to where everyone else was hanging out.
"Oh, hello!" My mother-in-law smiled from the couch. She balanced little baby Claire on her knee, while Wendy played with her hair. My father-in-law smiled and waved.
"Hi Irina!" Victoria smiled. She hugged me, and I said hi to her and her husband.
"What brings you here?" Father asked.
"Well, we kind of, well, not kind of... Uh, we have news to share," Blake stuttered.
"And what would that be?" Mother asked, peaked with interest. Blake took a deep breath.
"We're having a baby." Everyone cheered, and hugged us.
"That's so cool!" Sara said. "Wait till Chase finds out!"
"Oh, you'll both make wonderful parents!" Victoria grinned. She smiled at me. "If you need anything, just give us a call." I nodded and smiled back. We stayed for only a little bit; it started to get late.
"Have a safe drive home!" Mother called from the porch.
"Well, no offense, but that was better than your house," Blake said. I laughed, remembering what Desiree said. I sighed, tired from the day. We went straight to bed when we got home. I could barely sleep still; I was so excited. Only nine months, I thought, then I'd be holding my little baby. I curled up closer to Blake, and closed my eyes.