The Gift of Life

As Meredith collapsed tiredly by the fire, holding her beloved teddy close, her eyes turned to the fond memories framed along the mantelpiece. There were many things weighing heavily on her mind, but today... Today had been a good day, at the end of a fantastic weekend.


Saturday morning had been spent planning and plotting, buying cake and setting up chairs, and trying to avoid showing how much her back ached, but it was worth it: it was Bradley's birthday, and despite how much both Jebidiah and Meredith hated parties, it was important to Mere to show her son how much she loved him. In the end, she'd invited almost every friend that Travis had made in school -- quite a few, she painfully realized -- and that meant a lot of preparation... Especially mentally.



Farah ended up showing up, as well, which came as a huge relief -- she didn't mind putting in a little grunt work, as long as she got to be around when her grandson became a child. The kids were running around and being obnoxious, but at least Travis and June stopped their playing to celebrate when Meredith brought Brad to the cake.



Meredith laughed as Brad tried to blow out the candles -- he just wasn't that strong enough, yet... But he tried. Two candles, for his second birthday -- to Meredith, it was the most important transition in his life...



... and, seeing him grow up, was one of the proudest moments of her hers.



Once cake was involved, all the kids finally rushed to attention, screaming and laughing and barrelling over each other; it wasn't silent until they were all stuffing their faces. "Their moms are gonna hate me, I'll be sending them home with more energy than a herd of rhinos," Meredith quietly contemplated to the bite of frosting on her fork. "Oh well. Not my problem!"



But while Meredith is no Party Animal, she sure knows how to keep kids entertained; adult parties are pretty lame, yes, but kids parties? She knew all the right jokes to keep them rolling over themselves with laughter.



When it was all over, Bradley had thanked his mom for everything -- it was almost enough to make Meredith cry. It had been so long since she had been thanked... for anything... That to hear her son say those words was almost too much for her poor hormone'd self to handle.

"We'd like to get you something, for your birthday, dear... Is there anything you want?"

"Well... I was looking through a magazine... And I saw this bench... And I was wondering..."

"Anything for you, sweetheart. Anything."



"Here good, Mere?" Jebidiah called, looking at the corner of the yard thoughtfully.

"Uh... No, can you build it a little closer towards the house? I'd rather not have to cut those birch trees down. They're all we've got for shade back there!"

"I'll do my best, but we might have to--"

"You're smart, just FIGURE IT OUT! And it better be freakin' PERFECT!"

Jebidiah rolled his eyes, but didn't answer as he started to lay out on the ground where Bradley's birthday present was going to be built. "Can't wait 'til that baby is out of her," he muttered to himself...

---

As it was still the weekend, Jebidiah decided to take the next day off work, and instead, try to work on some 'public relations'. His reputation was beginning to go sour, despite how many cases he'd solved, and that probably was because he was avoiding actually socializing with anyone. People were suspicious... And they had every right to be.

So, he did what he knew he was good at doing -- training people to get in shape. As people were led to believe that he was helpful and encouraging, he was satisfying his need to rid the town of a few fat butts. "It's a win-win," he chuckled evilly to himself.



Meredith tagged along on his little... 'outreach enterprise'... but only because she was worried that her own butt had gotten a little too fat, as well. Exercise wasn't the only thing she found at the gym, though; she was surprised to find that she wasn't the only pregnant woman in this podunk town.

"Eva Drudge," the woman introduced herself. "My husband Shamus and I just moved here recently, as well. We had some.. issues.. where we used to live, um, some stuff at work, he needed to-- well, it's not important. What I mean to say is, try not to let this town get to you. They're a bit insensitive, but trust me, you aren't alone."



For the first time since they'd moved to Twinbrook, Meredith actually felt warm being around someone new. There'd been some of those geeky boys at the park that were nice, when she first arrived, but since then, it had all been Max Rackets and DeAndre Wolfs -- creepy, and more creepy. "How far along are you?" Eva asked as she made a cute little wave at Meredith's tummy. "You look nearly as ready to pop as I am!"

"Any second, it feels like," Meredith groaned, rubbing her sore back. "And I sure hope so. Due date is... sometime this week, I think... but I've got mixed feelings about it. I just want it out, ya know, but I love how crazy it's driving my husband!"

"I know exactly what you mean," Eva laughed.

As Meredith found herself laughing, she began to feel something she hadn't felt in a long time... The realization that this was going to be the beginning of a long, and wonderful, friendship.



But Meredith would not get her wish of torturing her husband for much longer. "Honneeeeeyyy!!" she yelled from the gym bathroom, holding her tummy tighly. "It's coming!"



Back at home, the phone rang. "Kids, your dad just called. You're stuck with me for another few hours, sounds like your sister's on the way." The babysitter went back to watching the sports on TV, and Travis joined him -- but, Bradley felt it was time to make use of his birthday present. Running into the shed that his father had built... He got to work.



Just as the sitter had said, several hours later, the front door slammed as Meredith walked through the door. "Kiiids! Come see your sister!"



At just that moment, Bradley finished his first, great invention: the Drinking Llama. It wasn't the most amazing thing in the world, but he was proud, and excited to be able to give something to the newest member of their family.



After Meredith got her changed into new swaddling, Bradley ran into the nursery, and looked into the crib only yesterday he'd still be sleeping in himself. "She's so beautiful, mom," he said with a smile.

"Bradley... Meet Amelia."


"Well, Amelia," Bradley said as he propped up the llama on his sister's nightstand. "I know it's not much, but I worked on it hard, and that's all that matters... S'kinda like this family. We're not perfect, but... We work real hard to stick together, and no matter what, we'll always, always love you."

.................

"Yes," Meredith thought as she looked into the flames, holding Mr. Snugglesworth even tighter to her chest. "It's been a wonderful day."

Yay, happy post. :) Not much story, but plenty of awesome. Welcome, Amelia, the newest member to the Kane Clan! ... Even though you actually arrived over a month ago. ... Still. Welcome anyways!

Drama and heartache shall resume next post. ;) 


Also: Now that Amelia has been born, the Family Tree has been updated! Amelia has been added, and everyone's LTW that I had. I'm not as dedicated as Marty, not gonna go back and add all their Favorites, too... ;)