Chapter 6
The first trimester goes... about as well as you'd expect. Evie's sick, Wynn's beside herself... but with Sara's help as far as meals, they make it through. As they reach the second trimester, Wynn starts to settle a bit. Evie's doing better, and she's starting to think the worst of it is behind them.
There’s a soft, muffled sound when Wynn walks in after work. Sometimes Evie’s been talking to her bump, or singing in the nursery in the evenings, which makes Wynn smile. But today she seems like she’s in their bedroom, so Wynn kicks off her shoes and moves towards the back of the cottage, listening carefully to see if she can figure out what Evie’s doing before so goes bursting in. She can’t quite place the noise, though, so she pushes open the door quietly.
Evie’s laying curled up in the middle of their bed, buried under as many covers as she can find. And she’s crying.
“Ev? Baby?” Wynn says softly, moving towards her. “Love, what’s wrong?”
Evie curls tighter into a ball and sobs, shaking with it.
Wynn moves for the bed, but pauses right before she touches Evie. “Evie, can I-”
Evie doesn’t let her answer, just throws an arm behind her and tosses the covers back so Wynn can climb in behind her.
She does, as quickly as she can, sliding right up behind Evie to curl around her protectively. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
Evie just sobs and shakes her head, turning over to nestle into Wynn’s side, letting her gather her up as close as she can get. Wynn holds her and strokes a hand through her hair, adjusting her body so Evie’s bump isn’t smushed between them so much. It takes nearly half an hour, but Evie eventually quiets down, sniffling periodically where her face rests against Wynn’s shoulder.
“Ev?” She prompts softly.
“I want my family,” she whimpers. “I want them back.”
Wynn’s heart drops. “Oh, baby-”
“They’re never going to meet her,” she says, putting a hand on her belly.
“I know,” Wynn whispers, squeezing her eyes shut. “I know.”
“It’s not fair,” she cries.
“It's not,” Wynn agrees. “It’s really, really not.”
“They’d be- Cas would be a perfect uncle, Wynn,” she sniffles. “He was so sweet and patient. Like a grown up version of Nate. And my parents - they were such good parents,” she says.
“Yeah?” Wynn asks. “Do you want to tell me about them?” She offers.
Evie nods, just a tiny movement of her head. “I- I remember before Cas was born. My parents spent so much time preparing me for the new baby. They gave me dolls and taught me how to care for him, so I could be helpful. And once he was born, they used to let me snuggle him whenever I wanted,” she says, a tiny smile curling her lips. “I used to call him ‘my baby’ and I would get mad whenever my mum tried to take him to feed him or let him sleep. I wanted him to come everywhere with me. And when I got frustrated, my dad always said that this was a brand-new world for him, so he didn’t know how anything worked yet. So I spent all my time teaching him everything - I tried to teach him to read before he could even sit up,” she smiles.
Wynn chuckles softly.
“He used to want me, when he was upset. He wouldn’t want my mum or my dad. He wanted me, and he would come find me, once he could walk. I used to be the one to put him down for naps, which I thought was such a big girl responsibility. I think my parents were just letting me do it because I’d lay down with him and fall asleep, too, but they still let me do it.”
Wynn smiles again. “I’m sure that was adorable,” she says quietly.
“I think we might have some photos of it, back in Holland,” Evie whispers.
“Yeah? Well, if you ever want to go back, I’d love to see them.”
“I think I do,” Evie says quietly.
“Yeah? You want to go back?”
She nods. “There’s things from when we were kids that I want our baby to have. Clothes and books and toys.”
“Okay,” Wynn nods. “Then we’ll go get them. Whenever you want.”
“Yeah?” Evie echoes softly. “You’d go with me?”
“Of course I’d go with you,” Wynn says. “I’ll go anywhere with you.”
Evie smiles softly and curls further into her neck. “I’d go anywhere with you, too.”
“Mm,” she hums. “Well, the only place I’ve gone that isn’t here is jail, and I’d really rather you not go there with me-”
“Wynnnn,” Evie groans.
“Sorry,” she grins. “Bad habit. Funny joke, though.”
“You’ve really not been out of the country? Out of this area? Outside of-”
“Nope,” Wynn says, shaking her head. “Never.”
“Do you have a passport?” Evie asks, lifting her head.
“Uhm… no, I don’t think so.”
“Are you- are you allowed to?” Evie frowns.
“Why wouldn’t I be allowed to?”
Evie just looks at her, wincing.
“Oh. Uhm… I think so? I should probably check on that, though, shouldn’t I?”
“Sorry-”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll- actually, I might need your help with that. To look up the rules and everything.”
“I can help," Evie nods.
"Let's look tonight, then," Wynn suggests. "So we can get everything started. And if I can't go, I'm sure Sara or Hendrich would. Or both. Whatever you want, Ev. Whatever you need, we'll do."