Who: Garrus & Veronica What: Veronica lets Garrus practice with a baby Liam~ When: Recently Where: Veronica & Logan's Home Rating/Warnings: Pretty low Status: Complete!
Garrus wasn’t about to halfass a damn thing.
Preparation was key. Ever since they planned this pregnancy, he always thought he was at least mentally ready to take on the journey but when the revelation of twins was made he, admittedly, sweated a bit (and perhaps hyperventilated in private). Those initial nerves eventually calmed and lately, he’d been doing all he could to prepare. Read the books, attended classes, but what he wanted most was hands-on practice. Niko and Amelia, well - they were a little older now, way past the infant stage, becoming a little less dependent on their parents every day.
Liam, however, continued to resemble a wrinkly human potato. A very cute wrinkly human potato.
“He poops pretty regularly, doesn’t he,” stated the turian, an obvious comment. His disguise was up; he wouldn’t dare enter Veronica’s home in his overall natural form and risk terrifying the baby. He’d come to pay a visit to his friend and lay a hand, and she was generous enough to let him change a diaper under her supervision.
The amount of butt paste babies required was practically infinite. Garrus made a note to invest in them, a lot. “How much sleep have you been getting? More, I hope?”
Veronica had seen Garrus without his disguise. It was a little odd at first, mostly because she wasn’t expecting it. She did get used to it, but she did prefer his human disguise. Veronica was okay with whatever form he wanted. It was his body after all. But yeah, seeing a blue, six foot tall, turian with an abnormal shaped head, probably wasn’t a good idea for a baby. That would suck though, if he had to remain in disguise in his own home once the twins were born.
“It’s basically all he does, along with eating and crying. Sleeping occasionally.” It was a lot but Veronica was adjusting. Even working a bit now. The good thing about being her own boss? She got to make her own hours and work from home often. The few times she had needed to do a stakeout she made sure Logan would be home. Keith was around a lot too - loving being a grandpa. But Veronica was still a bit wary to even let her dad watch Liam by himself.
“I probably average about four hours a night,” Veronica replied looking down at the child in her arms. Even with all the sleepless nice and loud cries he was still too precious for words. She couldn’t believe that she had created him. But those were things she would never say out loud. No, Veronica liked to hide that marshmallow center of hers. “I’m really making you forward to having two of them, huh?”
Garrus wasn’t someone who was greedy about sleep, anyway - he could crawl into bed late and wake up before the sun rose and still function right. He didn’t think it’d bother him too much, but he’d give a more definite answer when he experienced the sound of not one but two screeching infants in the middle of the night. “Try and scare me all you want, I look forward to it anyway,” he chuckled, the glamour unable to hide those peculiar vocals of his - metallic sounding, double-toned. “I’m more worried about whether or not I can figure out what they’re crying about. Everyone tells me that they can be fed, burped, and changed and they’ll still scream for no reason.”
According to his research the causes varied. Constipation, growth spurts, needing comfort. He supposed there’d be days where all they could do was let them cry it out but the idea admittedly...distressed him a bit. “Motherhood looks good on you, Veronica. You never thought you’d have your own offspring in your arms, did you?”
“Not scare,” Veronica corrected. “More like warn.” Because he could read all the books he wanted, she had. But actually having one was a whole other story. And two? Veronica couldn’t even imagine. Cindy and Garrus were going to have their hands full.
“Shut up,” she said with an eye roll. In a joking way. Not a rude way. Veronica just wasn’t the best with compliments. Especially when they had to do with motherhood. But anyway on to his question. “It wasn’t in the plans,” she answered honestly. “Logan was a hell of a lot more excited than I was.” It took her some time to warm up to the idea. But look at her now. “The best things in lines aren’t planned, I guess.” Veronica Mars - pulling out the cliches.
Parenthood could catch anyone off-guard - hesitance was a human response, considering that the concept of raising an actual person was daunting, difficult and intimidating. It meant sacrifice and patience, and it’d change everything about your everyday dynamics. Literally, the hardest job in the fucking world and he spoke as someone whose main responsibility was to fight against an alien invasion should it come (again).
“That’s what I say about Cindy all the time,” he smirked - sappy, but true. He came here following leads, not to settle down and marry. Garrus was happy he did. Otherwise he’d be married to his career-choice instead, out there on the road, contract after contract. “Is there anything I can do to help while I’m here? I know she came by before and did some tidying but I figured I’d extend a hand, too. If he keeps shitting himself you can make me your diaper-changing minion.”
He’d do it. Maybe stumble a little bit but he’d manage. Practice made perfect, right?
It was sweet how much Garrus and Cindy were helping her out. And she just had the one baby. She was definitely going to return the favor when they were swamped with two. Plus it would be good for Liam to be around babies his age.
“If you want to change his diaper I won’t stop you.” She might hover though, but if she can pawn diaper changing duty off she would. He wasn’t ready for one just yet, but it was only a matter of time. Until then… “Have guys started putting the nursery together yet?” It was still pretty early, but that was one of the things Veronica actually enjoyed doing. And watching Leon and Logan try to figure out how to assemble the crib.
With a baby that young, oh, definitely only a matter of time. He’d wait for the poop bomb to drop, though. Garrus sat on the couch, leaned back, and lifted an ankle to rest on his knee. “We’re thinking a moon and sun nursery no matter the sexes,” he confessed. “It’d be a good way to help distinguish between the two in the case they’re identical - I think we’re on the same boat of feeling like terrible parents if we mixed them up. Cindy’s hoping for twin girls.”
He, personally, had no preference. But he also knew if he had twin girls then he’d be at the mercy of his household, period. Overrun by estrogen aside from him and the cat. The ex-bounty hunter didn’t see that as a bad thing though.
“Her appointments have been more frequent due to multiples being classified as a ‘high risk’ pregnancy but so far, everything’s perfect - strong hearts, on-track growth.” And his wife was glowing. Garrus hadn’t a clue what the fuck that meant when someone was pregnant but he could see it now.
“You’re smart, you’ll know the difference.” She could understand how having identical twins could be daunting. But in the line of work they were in, picking up on small details came with the job. “And if you do mix them up, just don’t tell them,” she joked. Honestly she had faith that they never would.
“I assumed you’ve been going to all the appointments with her?” Garrus seemed the type to. As for what Veronica herself had been hoping for, she hadn’t really given it much thought. Thank God it turned out to be a boy though. She didn’t think she could handle playing dress up and barbies and everything that came with being a girl. Granted Liam might be interested in those things, Veronica wouldn’t care if he was. She was just not the dress up type.
Hopefully. But the moon and sun theme would help during those first few weeks - up until they really knew their kids. Again, though, assuming they were identical. There was a chance the same sexes could be fraternal or, hell, maybe they’d hit the lottery of a girl and boy. Get best of both worlds out in one labor session. That’d be ideal.
“I’d be upset if I couldn’t,” Garrus snorted. He’d always been protective of Cindy but was also soothed with the thought that in a sticky situation, she could easily take care of herself - the fabled princess was more than capable, fierce and deadly despite her petite size. Now that she was expecting? That instinct to hover was tenfold. He did his best to not be too smothering and he was sure there’d be a time where she might throw objects at his head for it. “I tend to want to be in the know of everything - and to ask questions, and have them prepare us for what the next appointment might detail and anything to look out for.”
A little much, maybe, but nothing was a little much when it came to the two developing offspring and their mother. “There’s this contraption called the omni-tool from my dreams - I’ve got a couple here - and I’ve calibrated mine to detect certain body changes, levels, temperatures, that sort of thing. If anything seems funny then we go to the doctor for a ‘just in case’ check up.”
That was definitely a bit much. At least by Veronica’s standards. She probably would have punched Logan if he had made her go to the doctor’s at the slightest change. But then her pregnancy wasn’t high risk. She also knew Garrus and Cindy only had so many chances to have children given the whole turian thing. They had to use was was saved up before his transformation.
“How… useful.” It was the best word she could think of. Veronica wasn’t exactly known for her warmness but she wasn’t going to be rude. What Cindy wanted was different than what Veronica did. Plus she could see how excited and proud Garrus was. Who was she to ruin that? “You guys are going to make some pretty awesome parents.” At least that was true.
And there it was. The smell. Looks like Garrus was going to get what he came for. “You ready to try that diaper change?” Veronica said as she stood up, ready to head back into the nursery.
Maybe it was a lot, but considering Cindy’s size and, again, the nature of the pregnancy - no precaution was foolish. Garrus would stand by that. His non-human status didn’t make them becoming parents all that simple, either. “I hope so,” he let out a sheepish laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.
They’d at least have help too.
He also smelled that stench. It potent, enough to make the former soldier wince. “Guessing it’s a nasty one, too. Alright, I volunteered. Feel free to hover and obviously let me know if I’m doing something wrong?” He’d wait for Veronica to slowly transfer Liam over into his arms.
Veronica reluctantly placed Liam in Garrus’s arms. It was difficult for her, letting others handle Liam. Even if logically she knew they were capable. “The changing table is in his room.” She kept her eyes glued on the two of them. Using the table was probably the best way to go for Garrus’s first time. Whether or not it was actually his first time changing a diaper she didn’t care. It was his first time changing Liam’s. That’s what mattered.
It wasn’t his first time, not really. Neal had been kind enough to let him practice over the butterball known as Niko, but he couldn’t say he was proficient in the art of cleaning baby butts and powdering them up. His line of thinking was that, well - all his friends were parents, might as well change as many of their diapers as he could so he wasn’t fumbling when it came to his own nuggets.
Garrus knew Veronica was watching him like a hawk. Hard to really neglect those burning eyes on him, and he did his best to be careful - like he was delivering a glass version of baby Jesus, something - to the changing table. The clasped buttons of the onesie were undone, the diaper open and…
Damn. Just…damn.
“He hasn’t...peed in your mouth, has he?” He decided to not breathe from his nose while he did this, thanks.
Veronica couldn’t help but laugh. She probably should have warned Garrus that that happened. But hey, it was better he learned from experience. “I’ve been lucky enough to miss out on that.. Or just skilled,” she quipped keeping her eyes glued to Garrus. “The joys of having a son.”
Veronica stood next to Garrus, just in case he needed assistance or Veronica felt he needed assistance. But so far he was doing okay. He was going to be good at the whole dad thing. She could already tell.
“Cindy getting any weird cravings yet?” she asked while watching him fully remove and dispose of Liam’s diaper.
Liam was a little easier - the times he’d helped Neal with Niko, that particular child was older, more prone to get distracted with things and to want to flail and roll around. Try wiping a mobile kid’s ass if you want a challenge and some exercise. “She is, nothing too out of the ordinary though. They’re still not insane enough to make her crave something like a hamburger.”
Cindy eating meat. Garrus might faint if he witnessed that. Anyway, rigmarole of diaper changing (cleaning, baby powder, the butt paste, switching to a nice set of dry, comfortable pampers) was surprisingly swift. He was cautious, gentle, and attentive, treating the baby boy like he was made of glass. “Ah, there you go, little guy. Good as new. Try not to have a blowout and leak, alright? Or at least give me a warning so I can leave and let your mother deal with that instead.”
Veronica couldn’t even imagine Cindy craving meat. But then she didn’t think she would ever crave peanut butter and pickles either, but it had happened. Hopefully if it did happen Cindy wouldn’t feel too guilty. Pregnancy was tough enough, there was no need to deny cravings. At leas if you asked Veronica. “That might just make hell freeze over,” she quipped still watching Garrus with careful eyes. He was good with Liam. The baby didn’t even fuss. He was going to be a great father.
Once Garrus was all done, Veronica collected Liam back into her arms. She couldn’t help herself. “You’re a natural,” she told Garrus, and that was about as much of a compliment anyone would get from her. Especially when it came to her son.
“I’m sure I’m not a pro like you yet, but thanks for the compliment anyway,” half-smiled the alien, careful when Liam was transferred over. Cute baby. Garrus never saw the appeal of calling an infant ‘adorable’ with their winky faces and potato postures, but with fatherhood in the horizon he could see it now. “Thanks for trusting me. I know it must be tough letting someone handle your own flesh and blood sometimes.”
He understood - and he imagined that he’d be overprotective of his two nuggets (that’s what they were called for now, until they figured out names and sexes).
“With having two to change you’ll be a pro in no time.” Veronica wasn’t sure she’d be returning the favor either. It was one thing to change her own kid’s shit. She didn’t really want to do it for anyone else, and well it wasn’t exactly like Veronica needed to practice anymore.
“Do you still eat?” Veronica remembered Garrus being allergic to most foods before he fully turned into an alien. She wasn’t sure if now that he had transformed he could eat human food or not. “Because I also happen to be a pro at ordering take out.”
Ah, if only. “No, I don’t, sadly,” he laughed - but don’t worry, he wasn’t offended. Garrus missed human food but he had a healthy supply of dextro-amino sustenance to choose from, and it wasn’t all equivalent to canned ravioli. “But feel free to order anyway. I’ll hang around if you want to make sure you can eat in peace, if you want?”
He didn’t mind. The more he practiced the better, and he was becoming more comfortable with being in the presence of a child as young as Liam. He was the closest to a newborn.
“That sucks,” Veronica commented bluntly. She couldn’t imagine not being able to enjoy food anymore. “You are more than welcome to say and watch me pig out.” She did get a bit bored being with just Liam all the time. Company was always appreciated. “Unless that’s just too depressing for you.”
Garrus shook his head, sitting back down with an arm spread across the top of the couch. “Not at all,” he assured. “I’ll keep you company, help out with Liam if he distracts you from gorging yourself - it’s what friends do.”
Veronica seemed like she could use the company of someone whose ass she didn’t have to wipe constantly, anyway. He was up for the task.