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Gawr Gura marvels at the Watson family home.
A small country brick building, it looks like something out of a fairytale. Neatly paved driveway, well-mowed lawn, spotless windows, placed on a sunny green meadow, it truly looks like a place one can call home.
Dwarfed by the massive door frame, Gawr Gura stands in anticipation of meeting the home’s residents. Styling her aqua-white hair in messy twintails, Gura wears a marine-colored shark hoodie, navy pants, and cyan sneakers. Peaking through the window, Gura is surprised to see no one waiting for her in the doorway.
Listening intently, Gura can hear a faint, almost mechanical rumbling emanating from inside the house. Further still, Gura can detect barely audible groans coming from inside.
Ina must be hurt!
What exactly happened? Some power tool accident went wrong, maybe Ame’s hurt too? Why aren’t there any ambulances nearby, they must need her help!
Slamming into the pair of double doors only to realize they’re locked, Gawr Gura tries and fails multiple times before finally inputting the right combination! Barging her way through the now unlocked doors and dirtying the hardwood floor. Gawr Gura is greeted by a small, friendly, yellow dog. Gently brushing Bubba Watson aside, the little shark shoulders her way past the spiral staircase and into the living room before her face goes red with embarrassment.
Sitting in a large leather recliner, Ina’nis Watson is surrounded by heavy-packed bags and suitcases. Her hair flaps are perked and jolt with sudden movements, alert on her squishy orange-purple hair. Face contorted into a pained grimace, one arm cradles baby Walter Watson as the other tightly clings to the hand of her wife, Amelia. All the while, her foot taps restlessly on the carpeted floor.
Ina wears a gorgeous tea-length black dress that has been draped down to leave her top exposed, two plastic pumps are placed on her chest, connected by tubes to a noisy machine, and bottles collect a mysterious fluid.
“Nnh!” Ina winces, her hand lovingly caressed by that of her wife.
The Amelia Watson that Gura had known for most of her college years is gone. Amelia’s short blonde bob of hair is neatly combed on her head, sky-blue eyes filled with concern. Wearing a handsome dark brown suit with her signature red-white pinstripe tie, Amelia Watson waits patiently, giving soothing words of encouragement.
“You’re doing, amazing, Ina,” the detective smiles.
“G-Gura?” Ina gasps, her face going pale and grey-blue eyes wide, as her free hand quickly goes to cover her bare chest.
“Get out, Gura.” Amelia snaps, with a furrowed brow.
“Ame, I’m sorry! I--”
“Get OUT!” Amelia yells, roughly pointing at the door with gritted teeth, her eyes taking on a darker hue.
Gura rushes out the door, apologizing profusely, as she waits by the front porch for the two to get cleaned up. The machine’s buzzing has stopped, and Gura can hear Ina quietly shushing baby Walter, who seems to be upset from all of the commotions.
Hearing that Ina and Amelia had a child was shocking, at least for Gura. How was their baby boy so freakin’ cute? With dark hair like Ina’s and sky-blue eyes like Amelia’s in a little purple takodachi onesie. Gura knew that Walter could be a lady killer when he’s older. That is if he didn’t already inherit Ina’s shy nature. Secretly shipping Walter and Mori Clara, Gura hoped to be the greatest great-aunt to ever live.
That Ina could lactate was a surprise in of itself, but stranger things have happened for the holoMyth crew.
Gura was proud at first, especially after realizing what Amelia had to do to make a baby with Ina. However, she’s even more excited to see how much Amelia has matured. While Ina always had a caring, maternal side, Amelia’s transformation from a wild party girl to a dedicated wife and mother is truly something to behold, especially when she gets protective.
As the door slowly creaks open, Ina looks up shyly, cradling baby Walter, who giggles and claps upon seeing Gura.
“I’m… sorry that you had to walk in on that, Gura, I don’t want to milk the situation to make you feel bad,”
“It’s her that should be apologizing to you!” Amelia hollers.
As Ina kindly explains, Amelia and Ina are both preparing for a trip to London. Amelia, an English citizen, is set to receive the title of Damehood from the Queen as a reward for her involvement in a case of international intrigue. Ina, meanwhile, is to meet with a potential buyer interested in purchasing one of her recent paintings for a generous sum.
It’s the first time the two have been apart from their son since he was born, and Ina is saving some breast milk for him while the two are away, bringing the pump with her to continue nursing. Offering Gura a paid position as a babysitter, Gura accepts, happy to help her friends.
Quickly, Gura is overwhelmed by Ina’s elaborate schedule. Lullabies, bedtime stories, feedings, changings, what seems like simple chores compound in Gura’s mind. More astounding was Ina’s ability to play with Walter and give Gura a tour at the same time.
“Breast milk for Walter is stored in the fridge, but you’re welcome to help yourself to anything you’d like. Any questions?”
Gura politely shakes her head no.
Ina’s nervous, bouncing Walter up and down, as she trembles with nerves.
“His favorite song?”
“Octopus’ garden,”
“Bedtime story?”
“Jack and the Beanstalk,”
“Stuffed animal?”
“Mr. Tako. You don’t need to worry about a thing, Ina! I’ve got everything under control,” Gura assures.
“I know, Gura…” Ina sighs, her bottom lip trembling as tears begin to drip down her cheeks.
Growing up secluded in the Cult of the Ancient Ones made Ina a socially maladjusted child. Now with a family of her own, Ina has a very hard time with separation anxiety, especially being away from her baby boy.
“I’ll be back Ina day or two, Walter. I love you and I’ll miss you, I’ll tako ‘bout you every day!” Ina sniffles, kissing Walter gently on the forehead before laying him down in his crib.
“Ready to go?” Amelia beams, only for her expression to change at seeing her wife’s sorrow. Wrapping Ina in a tight hug, Amelia gently runs a hand through her wife’s hair.
“I don’t want to,” Ina whines.
“I know, I know. Walt’s a tough kid, he’ll be good without us for a day or two, I promise,” Amelia whispers.
“Watch over the house while we’re gone, alright, bud?” Amelia coos, tickling Walter’s chin.
“I’ll be sure to, no problem, Ame!” Gura salutes.
“I wasn’t talking to you, stinky,” Amelia teases.
After loading the bags in the trailer, Amelia guides Ina out of the door, her wife’s head resting on her shoulder, as she calms her down from her anxious mood.
Despite her initial worries, Gura finds taking care of Walter is pretty easy. The Watson family’s son is pretty chill as far as babies go, he eats, he poops, he sleeps. It’s a pretty easy cycle to catch up on. Occasionally, Walter would cry and hug an empty milk bottle in his chubby little arms.
Taking it as a sign of Walter’s hunger, part of Gura wonders if it’s also a way of expressing that he misses his parents. Making silly faces at Walter tends to cheer him up.
Later that night, baby Walter rests soundly in his crib. Sitting on the couch with Bubba curled up in her lap, Gura watches old Shark Week re-runs on the TV. Seeing the behavior of these creatures is incredibly curious to her.
Suddenly, Gura is hit with an intense thirst. Hydration is important, especially for the little shark. Stumbling through kitchen cabinets and drawers, Gura can’t seem to find any glasses! Dismayed, the shark opens the fridge. Blinded by its light, Gura grabs at a plastic bottle of milk, drinking it before immediately spitting the stuff in the sink.
Runny, and oddly sweet, Gura feels the rough texture of scotch tape on her thumb. Flipping the bottle around, written in permanent marker, Gura distinctly reads in Amelia’s handwriting:
Ina’nis Milk
“Gura! How’s Walter? Did he sleep alright? What about eating, did you make sure to--”
“Hand me the phone, Ina!” Amelia nags.
“Bye, Gura…” Ina sighs before the receiver clicks as Amelia takes the phone.
“Sorry about Ina, she’s been worried sick all day.”
Dame Amelia Watson relishes in her new title, as well as her promotion to Head Detective in her department. Ina managed to sell her painting for a considerable sum, hoping to save it to Walter’s college fund. Unfortunately, due to a delay, the two probably won’t be back until tomorrow.
“Amelia, I can’t stay…” Gura blurts.
“Oh yeah, why not?” Amelia challenges.
“A-a…” Gura stutters to think of an acceptable excuse. She can’t stay in good conscience, not after drinking Ina's breast milk, for Walter nonetheless!
“Atlantis… stuff?”
“Atlantis stuff,” Amelia replies.
“Ame, she doesn’t have to explain it if it’s too personal! We’ll just make sure to pay her when we get back,” Ina replies.
“Oh, that’s okay!” Gura replies, feeling guilty for taking the money.
“Are you sure? Gura, if there’s anything we can--”
“No, it’s fine! I’ll make sure to get a replacement sitter for you two,”
“I still feel like you should get something,” Ina huffs.
“I got to hang out with the product of my friends’ ground-pounding, that’s a reward enough for me!” Gura snickers.
“Gura!” Amelia growls, as Ina giggles in the background.
“We’ll be back tomorrow, Sharkie, try Kiara for sitters,” Amelia warns. Gura can hear Ina faintly ask for help before hearing the same mechanical buzzing from that morning as the phone hangs up.
“Are you kidding? Gura, I don’t have time to sit right now, I’m a little busy,” Gura recoils slightly at hearing the voice of Takanashi Kiara bark at some unlucky KFP employee.
“What about IRyS?”
“Unless she's cool with Walter being driven around on a tour bus, I don’t think so,”
“Calli?”
“Calli’s busy with Clara, I don’t want to take that time away from her,”
“Please, Kiara, is there anyone who can cover me?”
“Try 5th Gen Sitters, I can normally get them when--HEY! What did I say about the usual room?”
Calling that number, Gura manages to sort out the situation before falling soundly asleep.
Early the next morning, Gura is wakened by the sound of loud knocking at the door. Glancing at the TV’s cable box, Gura is shocked to see that it is only 5:00 in the morning. Answering the door, Gura comes face to face with an unusual figure.
Having long, strawberry-blonde hair embedded with pink flowers, the sweaty stranger struggles to catch her breath with vibrant green eyes and a stunning black-yellow dress.
“Are you the sitter?” Gura asks.
“Hello… I… am… Momosuzu Nene, or Nenechi!” The girl beams.
“Did you run here?” Gura asks in disbelief.
“Good exercise. Best to get here early! Now I’m thirsty…”
Sprinting over to the fridge, Nenechi grabs the leftover milk before gulping it all down in one sitting.
“Mmm… delicious!” Nenechi grins, smacking her lips.
“There’s… milk in there for the baby, too,” Gura squeaks.
“I’ll be sure to share! Goodbye, Gura!”
Stunned that the mystery sitter knows her name, Gura rushes out of the door. Gazing at a puzzled Walter, Gura can only throw an apologetic glance before making her way out of the door.
“You know, maybe this whole babysitting thing’s not for me."