Chapter Text
Pebble purrs. He lies next to the strong one, who gently strokes him under the chin. He likes getting so much attention. He hadn't gotten that much petting lately. That was because the tall one was getting big and round and the short one was fussing around her like crazy. And yesterday, there suddenly was a puddle under the tall one, and it got really hectic. The short one kept saying 'I love you' and 'everything will be fine'. That was never the response when he accidentally left a puddle somewhere in the house. It was really unfair.
Then the short one said to him that Kai will come over and when they come back, he will be a big brother. He doesn't care. Right now he is enjoying the gentle touch of the strong one. The only problem is that the strong one won't shut up. He tells him how much fun Pebble will have with the little one. Not now. In a year or two, when the little one will not be so little anymore. Until then, the little one will cry and scream a lot. That doesn't sound very appealing. Maybe he can take refuge in the strong one's house?
Later that day, Pebble wakes up to a phone call that the strong one gets. He sounds very happy as he tells Pebble that he is now a big brother, Olivia is here. Six pounds and nineteen inches. Pebble doesn't know much about humans, but six pounds doesn't sound right. That's less than he weighs. The tall one always complains about his weight. And the vet. He should weigh eight pounds, not eleven. The vet and the tall one always agree on a diet. Thank god the short one always slips him something every now and then, otherwise he would starve to death.
The next day, the strong one gets all excited. He will visit them in the hospital. He says goodbye and tells Pebble that his humans will come home later and he will get to know the little one. Pebble decides it's time to sleep until then.
Pebble wakes up as the car pulls into the driveway. He jumps up on the windowsill to have a first look at the little one. He sees the short one running around the car. She helps the tall one out of the back seat. The tall one is not so round anymore, but she walks funny like sometimes after the tall and short ones spent the whole weekend in their bedroom.
Then the short one got the baby car seat. Pebble sighs. He remembers the fight over the thing. The tall one had researched for the best. Pebble saw it. Then the short one just showed up one day with a car seat that the bossy one had suggested. The tall one didn't like it. Not the car seat. The seat was at least in the top five on her list. But it was too soon, she said. You don't buy baby stuff in the first trimester. Whatever that means. The tall one was very angry. Also because the short one accused her of being irrational and moody all the time. Pebble agrees, it was a turbulent time. But as usual, the fight only lasted a few minutes. Then the humans disappeared into their bedroom and emerged later in a much better mood.
The door opens. The short one supports the tall one and carries the car seat. She gently leads the tall one to the couch and sets the seat down next to her. Then she runs back to the car and gets the other things. It's time for Pebble to have a look at the little one. He jumps on the table of the couch. The tall one looks at him accusingly, but doesn't say anything. Probably because she has no time. Immediately she looks back to the little one with big heart-shaped eyes.
The little one is small. Wrapped in layers of blankets like some kind of living burrito. And then it starts making noises. Horrible noises. High-pitched and demanding. Nothing like the rational communication I've perfected with my humans. The short one is enraptured, though. She coos at the creature. She holds it carefully, as if afraid it might break. The tall one removes her jacket. Then she opens her blouse and pulls down her bra. The short one hands the little one over. And then the little one starts sucking on the tall one!
He narrows his eyes. What is going on here? Pebble is usually banned from the living room when the humans take off their clothes. Sometimes they forgot and he saw a lot of strange things, like the short one sucking on the tall one like the little one is now. This is infuriating. The little one is in their house for one minute and already has more right than he does.
The short one sits down next to Pebble. She pets him and looks at the tall one and the little one like they hung the moon. She explains that Kate is breastfeeding Olivia. She needs milk. He likes milk too, but it was changed to water when he was put on a diet. When the little one is full, the short one puts a towel on her shoulder and then the little one burps. The short one and the tall one laugh happily. What is happening here? Did the humans get mixed up? Usually the tall one is angry when the short one burps.
The short one sits down next to the tall one. Pebble now has a closer look at the little one. A pair of tiny eyes meets his. They are watery. Unfocused. Not nearly as intelligent as his own. He sniffs the air. It smells strange. Like milk and soap and something else. The little one wriggles. It has hands, but they are tiny. Like little paws, and they move aimlessly. He could tell the little one wouldn't be hunting mice or defending the territory anytime soon.
Then the little one makes that noise again. A high-pitched wail that fills the room. Pebble's ears flattened out and he ran to his bed. What is the problem of the little one? He doesn't like it at all. He decides to sleep for a while. This is all too much. He needs his beauty sleep. And maybe when he wakes up, everything will be the same as before.