Chapter Text
A small boy peeked around the corner to the bedroom as he shyly eyed the woman that lay napping on the bed within. She had deeply tanned skin with dark hair that hung in curls around her face and was very visibly pregnant.
"Mommy?" The young boy called quietly, not quite wanting to wake her up but his stomach was growling and breakfast had been a long time ago.
Alyce’s brown eyes fluttered open and she immediately broke into a smile as she spotted the boy. "Cliff, sweetie, what is it? Come here." She scooted over on the bed as best as her pregnant belly would allow as Cliff eagerly ran over to climb up next to her.
"Mommy I'm hungry." He looked up into her face with pleading eyes.
"Are you?!" She gasped, ruffling his hair with a laugh. "You know what, I think I am too. But I always am nowadays aren't I?"
Cliff glanced over at her stomach as she gave it a gentle pat, a familiar feeling of sadness washing over him. When he didn't respond Alyce frowned and gently stroked the side of his face.
"What's the matter, sweetie?"
"Will you…" Cliff sniffled as he tried his best to hold back his tears. "Will you still love me after the baby gets here?"
"Oh honey!" Alyce pulled Cliff to her in a tight hug. "Of course I will! What makes you think I won't?" Her mind immediately went to her husband but pushed the thought aside as she began wiping at her son's tears.
"The other kids in school. They said...they said when you get a little brother or sister your mommy doesn't need you anymore."
Alyce's heart felt like it would burst, she hated to hear that he was getting picked on at school. "Sweetie, look at me." She cupped Cliff's small face between both her hands. "Of course I'll still love you. Just because there will be a new baby in our family doesn't change how I feel about you. Don't listen to those bullies."
"But what if you love the baby more?"
"I have enough love for both of you equally, don’t you worry about that." She smiled, using her thumb to brush away the last of his tears. "Now, no more tears, okay? Mommy will always love you."
"Okay." Cliff smiled as Alyce planted a big kiss on the top of his head.
"Now, how about we go make some lunch, hmm?" They both laughed as his stomach let out a rumble. Cliff hopped easily off the bed and waited for his mom as she swung her legs over the edge and got to her feet but immediately stumbled back into the bed as she clutched her stomach.
"Mommy! Mommy!" Cliff was at her side in an instant, grasping at her skirt as she tried to catch her breath.
"Sweetie, I think…" She took another shaky breath. "You need to call your father. The baby is coming."
Hours later, what seemed like an eternity for Cliff, and he was still waiting in the playroom he had been left in when they got to the hospital. Bored, he used a toy car to retrace the streets on the carpet for the dozenth time as he fought to stay awake. He had already taken a nap, although he hadn't intended to in case he missed the baby, made a house with some blocks, destroyed the house with a Tyranitar plush he brought from home, and still had not eaten - although a very nice nurse brought him some crackers and a soda.
He was almost slumped over on the carpet when a familiar voice called out for him.
"Cliff? You awake? Hey kiddo." His dad knelt down next to him with a smile.
"Mhmm." Cliff kept his eyes glued to the car he was half-heartedly pushing back and forth in front of him.
"You want to come meet your little sister?"
Cliff's eyes went wide as he finally looked up at his dad. "I have a sister?"
"You do, kiddo!" Carlos stood and extended his hand for Cliff to take. "Let's go see your mom."
Alyce looked tired but smiled wide when the two came into her room and she shifted the small bundle in her arms to make room for Cliff on the bed with her. "Say hi to your sister Faye."
"Faye." Cliff repeated in awe as he watched the baby wriggle about in the pink blanket it was wrapped in. She was smaller than he had imagined, although he didn't really know how big babies were supposed to be anyway, with wisps of dark hair and brown eyes like his mom. When he reached out to touch her tiny hand he was surprised when she wrapped her fingers around his.
"My family." Cliff heard his mom whisper happily as she squeezed his shoulder. Maybe having a little sister wasn't such a bad thing after all.