Amy (amychen) wrote in neogenesisrpg, @ 2009-04-12 22:48:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | amy chen, nana kimigawa |
Who: Amy Chen, Nana Kimigawa
What: Talking about the baby and other things.
When: Sunday afternoon.
Where: Nana's apartment, Linden Square.
Rating: G
Status: Complete.
Nana was slowly getting used to living in a new place, but she did miss her old apartment... But she didn't miss the kitchen. Carmine's was so much better! She carefully shuffled the last of the cookies she was baking onto a plate, then took them to the living room before going to fix some iced tea. It was sort of a defensive mechanism she'd developed - If she focused herself on other tasks, she'd be able to avoid making herself sick with nerves. It was a big question... What if Amy said no? She didn't expect her to, but there was always that niggling 'What if?' in the back of her mind. What if Amy said no? What if Carmine decided he didn't want to be married to her anymore? What if her baby was a giant octopus alien? ...Not so much the last one, but it was a thought that had occurred to her in a dream once.
As if aware of her nerves (which it likely was), Nana felt the baby turn and pressed a hand against her stomach. No, there was no time to be so worried. There was nothing to be worried about! Of course Amy would say yes. And if she didn't, well, that was fine, too. It was. Really. Really!
Dressed in a pair of jeans and her hair pulled up into a ponytail, Amy made her way off the street and into the building. She knew Linden well, having lived there before getting married, and she found it a funny coincidence that her friend should now be living there instead. Funny old world.
She rang the intercom under the name Archer and waited, staring casually past the fence into the yard where the sound of children laughing filled her ears.
Nana set the pitcher down when she heard the buzzer, and moved to press the button. "Amy? Come inside, I'll let you in," she said, then moved to the door to let her friend enter. She herself was dressed in a loose shirt and a long skirt - It was more comfortable with her growing stomach, and she could adjust them both to fit as she got bigger. She was having a hard time believing she still had a month to go. "How are you doing??"
Amy had entered before Nana's question registered, the front door closing behind her with a loud bang. She climbed the stairs by foot, forgoing the elevator. At Nana's door, she smiled and knocked, but the good humor didn't reach her eyes. She wasn't sure why she was here, other than to get out of the house.
Nana opened the door and gave her a smile. "Hi," she said. She hadn't realized how happy she would be to see her friend.The news of the terrorist attack had been frightening, but she'd had no idea Amy had been there. It felt awful to think that Amy could easily have... She shook her head, then stepped aside to let her move into the house. "How are you doing?"
"Hey... I'm good." Liar, liar, Amy thought, flashing the expected smile. "What a beautiful home you have," she beamed, peering at the new apartment. It looked nothing like hers used to and nothing like Hugh's. Or maybe that was just how it felt, knowing that she had no one to fill her home while Nana did.
"That's good," Nana said, smiling back. She hesitated for a moment, then reached out and gave her friend a hug. It was quick, but warm, and Nana smiled sheepishly when she pulled back. "It's good to see you." To think that she could have been dead and Nana would not have even known until she heard it on the news... She closed the door behind Amy, then smoothed her hand over her stomach. "Would you like some iced tea? Or I could make coffee... There's also juice, if you'd like that."
Amy pulled away, surprised at the hug, but secretly pleased. She wasn't big on displaying affection, it wasn't done, as far as she was concerned, but Nana obviously was, so she indulged. "Iced tea is fine," she replied and followed her away from the front door. "You look... well. Big. How's the baby?"
"All right," Nana said, disappearing into the kitchen. She returned with two tall blue glasses filled with ice and tea, and a small bowl of sugar. "The baby's fine so far," she said. "They're having trouble with the testing, but I..." She sighed, then shrugged. "It doesn't matter either way, does it? If he or she is sick, then that's how it is. If not, then it's that way. So..." She smiled, trying to reassure herself more than anything. "So we'll handle it when the baby's born."
"You're a lot more serene about it than you were the last time we talked, " Amy pointed out, taking a seat on one of the couches. And she thought about that time, before Hugh, before the bomb, when she had been happy to move into a place that had a few square feet on her old one and a better view. How trite it all seemed now.
"I've had a lot of time to think about it," Nana said, setting her glass down. And she had. An hour didn't go by where she didn't think about it, and she came to the conclusion that she could do more by being strong for her child than by being hysterical. It was just a matter of telling herself that. She was doing well so far, but the real test would be when the baby came. She was far from religious, but she'd be lying if she said she hadn't been praying. Nana pushed the tray of cookies towards Amy. "Tell me what you think? I tried a new recipe, I don't know how well it worked... But they're just out of the oven, so hopefully they're good."
Amy thought about telling her she was watching her weight, but it seemed inconsequential. She reached for a cookie, the dough warm under her fingers. "Well, they look great... when do you find the time to do everything? You work so much..." She took a bite, which effectively shut her up. It tasted good and she offered a thumbs up. "You always were the better cook."
Nana blushed at the compliment. "Thanks... Well, I've had trouble sleeping recently," she admitted, laughing. "So that's part of it." And keeping busy was the best thing to keep her mind off her worries. There was a lot of work to be done still before the baby came. "And I've not been working as much, either... They want me to try and take it easy, but it's difficult to tell myself that. I love work."
Amy smiled politely and finished the cookie, never one to know how to refuse politely. She chased it with iced tea. "I'm glad it's not too busy at the hospital these days. You deserve a break."
Nana smiled as well, and took a sip of her tea. She frowned, then stirred in another spoon of sugar. "Thanks." How to bring up the subject? "Um, so I wanted to ask you something..."
Amy arched a brow, instantly expecting the worst. Her nature was pessimistic, there was no way around it. "What is it? Your husband? You know I'm not a full fledged lawyer, so I can't help personally, but I can recommend you to someone."
"Huh? No..." Nana laughed a little. "I was, well, I was wondering if..." She hesitated, placing her hand on her stomach again. That was an odd place for her mind to go. "I was wondering if you would... When the baby's born, I mean, I was thinking, if you want to, um... You might be her godmother."
Amy blinked. "Oh. Sorry. Sorry, that was incredibly rude. And presumptuous." She turned the glass in her hands, staring at the liquid inside. "Of course. I'd be happy to." For all she knew, it was going to be the only motherhood she'd ever taste.
Nana chose to forget the other statement and gave Amy another hug. "Thank you!" she said cheerfully. Yay! There was nothing to be worried about. "I'm so happy, Amy."
Amy hugged her back, confused at the exuberance. "Is there some fine print I'm not aware of? Like... what's a godmother supposed to do?"
Nana smiled. "I guess... If we were more religious there would be more, but it's sort of like..." She tried to think of a way to put it. "Like if you were the baby's aunt, and... If something were to happen to Carmine and I, you would take the baby." She blushed. "If you don't want to do that, you don't have to. I understand. It's a lot to ask..."
"No, no. That's fine." The likelihood of anything happening to Nana was low. Besides, her friend had family. But Amy paused, frowning. "Carmine is going to adopt the child? Are you sure that's wise?3
Huh? "Yes, well... He wants to. Why wouldn't it be?" What was Amy getting at? Now she was worried - Could there be something she'd overlooked? Oh no...!
"Well, what if you two don't get along in the long term? What if you divorce? Do you want him to take your child?" Amy settled back against the couch and folded her legs.
Nana frowned. "I..." Oh no. She put her hands on her stomach, looking down at the floor. That was an awful thought. "But I'm..." But Amy would know, wouldn't she, about the legal aspects. "I don't want that to happen, but... I mean..." Oh, jeez. It had all seemed so easy before, but now...!
"He doesn't have to adopt your baby," Amy pointed out, laying a hand on Nana's shoulder. "Or he can do it later. What's the rush? He's not the baby's father so it's not like you can put his name on the certificate."
Nana nodded. That sounded like a good idea. She didn't want to think about it, but it was an important thing to think about. What would she do without Amy? "I suppose so. I hadn't thought that it might not work out..." That wasn't true, she'd thought about it a lot, but mostly she was worried that they'd do like they had done with Andrew.
Amy flashed her a smile. "Besides, you'll always have me, right? If anything happens." What, she wasn't sure. Patting Nana's back, she sighed. "Is that what the cookies were for? Plying me with sweets?"
Nana blushed, smiling sheepishly. "Yes," she agreed. She did have Amy. Amy was always there. "The cookies? Ah, sort of..." She grinned playfully. "I also like to bake, so..."
"Can I make a confession?" Amy asked, smiling bright and maybe even honest. "I hate it. I can never get the measures right and nothing ever rises for me."
Nana laughed. "It's a little bit of work. I wasn't any good when I first started. I forgot there was a cake in the oven once and I thought my mother was going to kill me."
Amy chuckled. "Why? Did it get carbonized?" She couldn't remember her first attempts, having blocked them out of her memory. Like most things that went wrong in her life.
"Yes, and there was smoke pouring out of the oven." Nana grinned, then took a sip of her tea. "It ruined the pan. I felt so bad."
"You always feel bad," Amy chided. "That's why you blush so much, isn't it? I used to be so jealous about that. I can't blush on command if you make me."
It was true! Nana put her hands on her cheeks. "I can't help it!" she said. "It's ridiculous, I hate it so much!" She could never lie, or say anything embarrassing without blushing like a tomato.
"Oh come on," Amy cajoled. "You know it's a good look on you. I bet it has all the guys drooling." It was the fragile little girl act and Amy couldn't envy it more. She'd tried it in high school but had anyone bought it? No.
Nana giggled. "Maybe. I wish people could take me more seriously, though..." Ugh. BUt she didn't want all the guys drooling over her, she just wanted one guy to love her and stay with her.
"I'm pretty sure they do," Amy replied. "You're a nurse. That generally carries a lot of weight, especially with patients." She remembered being in hospital not long ago and looking at anyone in uniform for advice.
"That's true," she said, rubbing her neck. "I wish I could be more forceful, though." She gasped, then, and put a hand on her stomach. "Oh! The baby's been squirming all day, I don't know why... Do you want to feel it?"
Amy laughed, then went completely quiet. "Uh... should I?" She'd never been fond of pregnant women, once they'd started showing up again. She didn't know how to treat them and she always felt like they were rubbing their round bellies in her face. She wasn't sure what to do now.
"If you want to." Nana placed her hand on a specific spot. "Put your hand here, this is where it is."
Amy smiled and slid forward on the couch, reaching out a hand. It felt a little awkward, but she obeyed, laying her hand half over Nana's.
Nana smiled brightly, moving her hand so that Amy could get a better feel. The baby seemed to be moving against that spot, either kicking or turning or something. It had felt so strange the first time she'd noticed, and still now it felt kind of odd.
Amy laid her hand down proper and waited. It was strange, but beyond Nana's inflated belly she didn't feel anything. Nothing, for a long moment. And then the baby kicked and Amy yelped, removing her hand with a giggle. "Oh my God, that's so weird! Is that normal? Does it hurt?"
Nana giggled as well. "No! It doesn't hurt at all, it feels kind of like a gas bubble but... Different." She smiled. "It's very normal. It's active today, though, more than normal. They can pick up on your mood, though, so maybe that's it."
"How strange..." Amy hesitated before returning her hand to the other woman's stomach. She was curious and confused about the whole thing, enough to act outside of her normal boundaries and linger. "So happy mom, happy baby?"
"Uh huh. And having too much stress can stress the baby out. Everything we do influences it... And the baby can hear your voice when you're pregnant, as well, and some things outside."
Amy smiled shyly. "Oh God, why didn't you tell me sooner? It shouldn't have to hear me be an idiot." She removed her hand.
Nana laughed again. "No! You're not an idiot," she said, reaching out and placing her hand on Amy's shoulder. "You're a good friend."
Amy patted her hand. "I'm glad you think so. It's been such a terrible few months for us both, we need all the friends we can get."
"Yes," Nana agreed. It had been hard... She could hardly believe how much her life had changed in just a few months. "I'm really grateful to have you." Even if there had been rocky points, she considered Amy to be a good friend.
"So am I." Amy squeezed her fingers. "We have to stick together, alright? Especially now. It's so dangerous out there... I'm thinking of bringing my parents to live with me until Hugh gets better. Maybe after, too."
"Really?" Nana smiled. Part of her was envious - She was very much attached to her parents - but another part of her was happy she didn't have her mother interfering as much as the older woman had wanted to. "That sounds like a nice idea."
"I'm not doing it to be nice," Amy replied, her smile drawing tight at the corners. "If I was as good a daughter as that, I would've done it sooner. I'm doing it now because I'm afraid. It's not safe out there. I can't believe what the world is turning into..."
"Well, you deserve to have your own life," Nana said quickly in response to the first part. She gave her a reassuring smile, as best as she could. "It is scary, but... We have to keep going. That's all we can do..."
"Yeah..." Amy cleared her throat, breaking eye contact. The cookies, the ice tea. Everything looked so nice and safe that she half expected the layer to peel off and reveal men with machine guns. Blood. "I should go. I have... to pick up some things. I need to put in an appearance at work tomorrow. I haven't been in for days."
"Oh..." Nana nodded, then stood up with some difficulty. She sighed when she finally got up, then held her hand out for Amy. "I'm so glad you came by. Please take care, okay...?"
Amy stood a little stiffly. "I will. I'm sorry, Nana, I wish I could stay longer," she lied, hoping to save face. Her friend had gone to all this trouble, it felt wrong to deceive her, but she did it anyway. Better than to hurt her.
"No, no! It's fine." Nana nodded, then moved to open the door. "It's fine, really. I understand. I should probably get some rest, too, I go in at two tomorrow." Her mood seemed to have changed quickly, but Nana didn't think much of it. She had been through a lot recently, after all.
Amy nodded and, after a brief hesitation, reached out and hugged her friend delicately, with one arm. "Thank you for the call, I appreciate it. I'll see you again soon, right? And the baby?"
Nana returned the hug easily. "Of course! I promise. I'm not due for another month, but I'll see you before then, I'm sure."