audrey (bidabble) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-09-10 16:43:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, audrey, elphaba thropp |
Who: Elphaba and Audrey
What: Broodiness
Where: Baxter’s
When: Early August
Rating: PG
Status: Complete
Elphaba was hankering for a coffee. A sparkling latte to be precise. She had just had a hard morning with a difficult client but she had finally managed to get the man’s taxes and account book in order. Coming up to the counter, she gave her order and stepped to the side to wait for it to be prepared.
Smiling over the counter, she spotted the lady she knew to be the proprietor behind the cake counter with a baby strapped to her front. The baby smiled at her and waved her hands in an unwieldy fashion. Elphaba grinned automatically and waved back, finding herself making funny faces before she really knew it.
Audrey was on the phone with one of their customers. The wholesale business was thriving, and Audrey shipped off loaves of bread each morning to restaurants in the area. One of them was changing his order--dropping down a bit, which wasn’t good. Audrey wanted both businesses to be doing well, not cutting back. She sighed as she hung up the phone and turned to see one of her regulars making funny faces at Ben. Audrey couldn’t help but grin as she stepped forward. “I think he likes that.” Of course he did. The baby was squealing and clapping with mirth.
Elphaba smiled bashfully and blushed, knowing she’d been caught being silly. “Sorry, he waved at me and it kind of escalated from there. I didn’t mean to disturb you,” she apologised, referring to the phone call she had just hung up on.
“It’s really okay.” Audrey said, grinning. “I’d much rather talk to you than to him.” She motioned over her shoulder at the phone, playfully. “And I think Ben would rather talk to you, too.”
“Oh, thank you,” Elphaba smiled at the compliment. “Actually, would you uh...mind? Do you have a minute for a chat?” she asked, stumbling a bit over her words and gesturing with her thumb over her shoulder that they should have a seat. She was actually a little bit nervous and embarrassed and she didn’t really know why.
“Oh not at all.” Audrey broke into a bright smile. She finished dusting her hands on a kitchen towel, and then checked to make sure Ben was still happy in the carrier.
“Is something the matter?” Audrey moved around the counter so that she could join her customer and friend at one of the booths. “Should I be concerned?”
“Oh no, I just...just wanted to pick you brains about…” Elphaba gestured to the baby strapped to her front. “About having children really,” she admitted with a shy smile, feeling her cheeks flaming bright red.
“Oh!” Audrey gave a laugh, relief washing over her. “Sure! I’d love to talk about it. Are you thinking about having a baby of your own?” She asked. She knew that Elphaba didn’t have one yet, and would be more than willing to discuss it with her.
Elphaba smiled and ducked her chin. Why did she feel so embarrassed about asking these sorts of questions? “It’s something I’ve mentioned to Lúthien and she wants to talk about it. I guess…” she paused and swallowed. “I was visiting a friend who’s just had a baby and it got me thinking about Dior and his first few years. Lúthien and I missed out on it all and it got me wondering if I might be ready to...well, y’know,” she gestured to the baby in front of her. “Is there any advice you’d give?”
“Well, if you wait until you’re ready, it’ll never happen,” Audrey said, gently. “Ben was a pleasant surprise for Merlin and me. It’s hard for me to imagine planning a pregnancy, actually!” She laughed. “But we’re definitely going to give him a sibling. I’m sure of it. I want Ben to have a baby brother or sister for sure.” She paused for a moment, running a hand over the baby’s head, not having realized that Ben fell asleep in the carrier.
“It’s a lot of work, but the merits far outweigh the flaws.” Audrey explained. “I’m exhausted. Those first few months were really hard. It’s getting easier now, though.” Beat. “Does that help you at all?”
Elphaba chuckled, she knew how that sort of thing could go, putting something off because you didn’t feel ready for it. Like when she had finally decided to leave the accountancy firm last year and go it alone. In the end, she had just had to bite the bullet and do it. “Do you enjoy it? Being a mom, I mean? Have you ever...regretted it?” she asked with a little wince.
“Well, of course. There are those moments at two o’clock in the morning when you’re exhausted and just plain don’t want to do it anymore. Or when you’re cleaning poop or spit-up off of your favorite blouse. But those moments are fleeting.” Audrey explained. “Because you know that you’ve got the most perfect, little person in your life. There’s a bit of a rush that comes from a creature being completely dependant on you for everything from staying clean to feeding himself. There’s so much love in that, I can’t… I don’t think I’m doing it justice.”
Elphaba smiled at her serenely. “I think you’re doing just fine,” she told her confidently. “To be honest, I think I was already decided on the idea, I just needed someone else to tell me it wasn’t crazy to think about it,” she shrugged. “Want it, y’know?”
Audrey gave a little laugh. “Well, I’m glad I could add fuel to the fire.” She beamed over at the other woman. “But really, if you want it that badly, and if it’s something you’re truly passionate about, I’m sure you’ll be fine. I’ve got a whole collection of pregnancy books, if you’re interested in reading any of them.”
Elphaba grinned at her. “Thank you, I would really appreciate that. I’m not sure how long it will take for us to put our plans into action, I mean, I don’t know whether we would ask someone we know to donate or get an anonymous donor. I guess those are the things Lúthien and I need to discuss and look into,” she tucked some hair behind her ear with a shy smile.
“Yeah, those are definitely things that no one else can decide for you.” Audrey said, gently, smiling at the other woman. “I’m sure you two will do fine, though. It’s a lot of work, but it’ll be beautiful for you.”
One of the young baristas behind the counter called out for Audrey, and she glanced over. Then back again. “I should probably go help her with the register,” Audrey said. “Can we continue this conversation later?”
"Absolutely! Sorry, I didn't realise how long I'd kept you, thank you for taking the time to talk to me!" Elphaba apologised, smiling as she spoke. She was very grateful for Audrey's time and she'd pop round in a few days to pick up the books she'd offered.