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I. 1 DAY
“What am I going to do with you..” Derek whispered, looking down to the baby sleeping in his arms as he fought off his own exhaustion. “I still don't even understand how this happened so quickly..”
”I have explained it in the best way possible. Knowledgeable or not, you would not be able to understand. It is difficult enough trying to describe this in a way you would be able to comprehend.”
“Well what are we supposed to do with it-”
”Do not refer to our kin as an ‘it’.” Annoyance laced Hastur's voice, going completely unheard over Derek's anxious ramblings.
“We don't have any kind of room prepared, hell, we don't even have a crib. No food, clothes, diapers- We're not ready for this.” Unexpected, it was the only word Derek could use to describe the situation.
There would be to gauge when it would happen Hastur had explained to him. Something to do with time, and the workings of His own species. At the time Derek didn't mind the idea of expecting the unexpected, he simply liked the idea of a family. He had decided he could use time to plan, save money and prepare. He was expecting months, maybe even years.
Not a week.
He chuckled, despite finding little humor in the anxious spiral he found himself in “We don't even have a name for the kid.”
”We will figure everything out..”
II. 2 MONTHS
The crackle of the egg in the pan echoed through the kitchen, the early morning light pushing through Derek's small apartment window while he dragged the butter knife across the toast. Periodically, he'd turn back to the baby, which watched a dark tendril protrude from Derek's back and click off the stove.
”It's done.”
“Thank you.” Derek shivered at the fizzling pain he felt as the tendril disappeared. He scooped up the egg with a fork and plopped it onto the toast. “Glad we found out You could do that.. will make things a bit easier around here.“
”If it could hold for more than a few seconds.”
“Who knows, maybe it'll get easier over time..” Though, he wasn't sure if that was a good idea.. Derek picked up the egg sandwich, taking a bite as he watched the lounging baby on the floor. “What about Grant?”
”What?”
“What if we named him Grant? That was my grandfather's name.”
”I.. am not sure how I feel about that one.” That was how Hastur had felt about most of the names he'd brought up, but Derek was hopeful that he'd find at least one name that He liked.
“Hm.. Lennie?”
”..No..”
“Alex.. no, Alexander.”
”No..”
“John?”
”Oh, absolutely not.” Derek scoffed playfully, He almost sounded offended by the notion.
“Oh, C'mon what's wrong with John?”
III. 3 MONTHS
The baby giggled, reaching for the small toy Derek held in his hand, it rattled when he set it in front of him, just barely out of reach.
“You're sure you saw him do this?”
”Yes. I am certain.” Hastur buzzed with an excitement even Derek could feel, supposedly witnessing a toy floating earlier and claiming it was because of their kid. Derek remained skeptical, scooting backwards slightly.
“You seem excited about this.”
”I am, truly. I had been beginning to worry about him as of late, about what powers he could hold, being.. well”
“Human?” Derek looked down to the baby. He may have looked human, but even Derek could tell he was far from.
”Precisely. If he does have power, he deserves a title that exudes such power. I was thinking, perhaps” A deep rumbling snarl suddenly rang out, making Derek jump.
“..What?” Hastur let out the strange, almost animalistic sound once more. “..As a name..?”
”Yes.”
“No, No.. I don't think that will work..”
”No? Then should we rather go with ” Another sound, this one higher pitch, and longer. It held a strange growl to it.
“..How would I even spell that?” Derek sighed, a headache starting to blossom the longer he heard His native tongue, tongues? “I don't think we'll be able to..” The sound of plastic suddenly slammed against the ceiling. Derek instinctively flung forwards to cover the baby, the small rattling toy slamming against his back. He straightened back up, the baby roared with laughter.
”I told you!”
“Woah.”
IV. 4 MONTHS
The moonlight snuck through the drawn curtains, Derek rubbed his shoulder and collapsed onto the bed. Faintly sniffling into his pillow.
”What is the matter?”
“..We're terrible parents..” He clung to the pillow, God, he felt pathetic. Crying like a child. “..We don't know what we're doing..”
”We are not. Derek, it is not as if this sort of thing is an everyday occurrence. Such offspring.. it has rarely happened throughout history, I feel that is more than enough of an excuse to not have all the answers.”
“We can't even name our own kid! What kind of parent can't even name their own child?” A painful buzzing sensation spread throughout him, a sudden weight laying atop him as Hastur laid on top of him, tendrils curling around him. It was.. comforting, reminding him of a weighted blanket almost.
”A ‘name’.. something so trivial yet so vital to one's identity.” Derek felt cold porcelain settle into the crook of his neck, was this meant to help him feel better? ”Such an important decision takes time, time which most are given before having to focus on caring for their child.”
”Taking the time to find the right choice does not make either of us less of a caregiver.” Derek smiled slightly, the God's embrace slowly tightening around him, he took a moment to relax in the growing warmth enveloping him. ”The very fact you've taken this much time is proof enough.”
“I suppose you're right..” Derek wriggled an arm free and wiped away the tears that welled up in his eyes before resting it against the porcelain cheek. “I needed to hear that..”
V. 5 MONTHS
The little bell chimed above Derek, the door slowly shutting behind him. The small diner was bustling with people, as it often was on a Sunday morning. He readjusted the baby he held against his hip and walked to a small booth in the corner.
“I was wondering when you were coming!” Avery pulled his headphones down to rest around his neck.
The tradition had started somewhere before Avery had started college, to make sure another “2 months of no contact” didn't happen again. Every Sunday they met up for breakfast at a small family owned diner that was a midpoint between their houses. They'd talk about their week and anything going on in their lives.
“Don't even get a hello anymore? You've really become a stone cold adult, Avery.” He slipped the baby into the small high chair that was pulled up to the table and pulled it close to his side of the booth.
“What can I say? College changes a man..” He looked wistfully out the window, only letting up on the dramatics when a waitress walked up.
“Mornin’ Diane.” Derek nodded in greeting.
“Nice to see you guys this morning. Get you guys your usuals?”
“Yes please!”
“Alright, it'll be out in a bit!” She briefly stopped to wave at the baby, who stared at her blankly. She cleared her throat and walked back to the kitchen. The two, technically three whenever Hastur had something to say, fell into an endless conversation quickly, only stopping when Diane returned with two plates of food. A plate of french toast and bacon, and a slice of berry pie.
“So-” Avery took a bite of the pie “-how's parenthood been?”
“About how you'd expect.” Derek took a small jar of baby food, unscrewing the cap and feeding a few bites to the child before focusing on his own plate, “What about you, how's college going?”
“It's going alright, nothing new, really.”
“Whatever happened to that one guy, the one studying forensics?”
“Ha.. nothing yet.” Avery shied away and over to the baby, who had suddenly decided the mushed vegetables were not acceptable anymore, staring at the last few bites of his pie. “Want some, little guy? ..Can he have some?”
“Pie? Well..”
”Perhaps.. A small amount.”
“..Just a bit.”
“Aren't you glad you've got such a cool ‘uncle’, kid?” Avery scooped up a small amount of filling and held it out to the baby. “Hey, did you guys ever decide on a name?”
“Uh..” Avery set the spoon down.
“Derek.. You've had him for nearly 6 months and you still don't have a name?”
“Well..” Anxiety had started to fester, spoiling the appetite he had. Derek could practically hear his brain turn over and over trying to find something to say, “..Aureolin. That's- That's the name-” He'd suddenly croaked out.
”Oh, pay him no mind. If he- ..Aureolin?”
VI.
“I'm sorry- I panicked!” He tried to focus on the road ahead of him.
”I'm not upset, Derek. I'm just.. surprised. That was.. not what he was expecting, it was somewhat of a relief. ”Oddly, I.. rather like the name..”
“Really?”
”Yes. I'm not sure why.”
“It seems to suit him, but just not usually a name people have..” Derek adjusted the mirror slightly, glancing back to the baby behind him “What about.. Olin for short?”
”Hm.. Yes. I like it.”
“Well, I think we finally figured it out.”
”Just like I told you we would.”
“Yeah.” He laughed to himself, “What do you think.. Olin?” The baby, Olin, perked up at the name, the faintest quirk of a smile.
”I think he likes it, as well.”