Maximillian reached for his phone to text one of his friends that something weird was going on when he saw the date. "Oh wow." He glanced between his mother and father. "Mum, I think- you might be pregnant with me." That was weird. "You're due in September right?"
Ella nodded, dumbfounded. "Near about," she replied. "You're-" She glanced down at her baby bump and smiled. They were having a boy? What glorious news! She'd been so hopeful, but she did not want to love her firstborn any less if she were not a boy.
"This ought to be interesting," Max decided. "Well, I'm Max for short. Maximillian Auguste after my grandfathers."
Hayley made a fact at her older brother. "What are you on about? They know your name, just like they know my name." Duh.
Ella smiled at her daughter reassuringly. "We will know you one day," she promised, "but at the moment, we have not even met Maximillian just yet." It was the simplest way she knew to explain it.
"Wait, so you guys don't even remember having us?" Hayley asked. Ella shook her head. "Well, I'm Hayley and Daddy promised to take me riding so can we go riding?"