They will be like him and me, as free as a dove.

[thewisdomwithin]

Even the back pain was amazing to her. So far, there was no aspect of the pregnancy that hadn't in some way thrilled and fascinated Mokey. It wasn't all fun, but it was all so interesting - and so heartwarming, too. She'd found she was singing to herself more lately than ever before, which was really saying something. From what she and some of her non-Fraggle friends had figured, the baby could hear her by now, and she wanted to them to hear a lot of the happiest sound: music.

She wandered into the kitchen, and opened the door to the pantry, looking for a nice snack and singing all the while.

♫If that juicy pear is gooey,
Let's go find some chicken chop suey.
If that chicken chop suey is tough,
Let's go find some stroganoff...♪

That trailed off into giggle. "Well, I do think a juicy pear would be nice!" she mused aloud, rubbing the end of her snout. "I wonder if we have any..."

Comments

[moneymatters]

"You have no arguments from me there." He thought a moment, and then glanced at her. "He's always had trouble with stress, right? What usually works for him when it gets as bad as all that?"

[thewisdomwithin]

"Usually the kind of things we've been doing help him, that's the tricky part!" Mokey sighed. "He'll spend time with the rest of us, or you, or Lexi, or Della, and after a while, he'll be fine... But this is different. This is so hard for him."

[moneymatters]

"I'd wager it's different because it's something he is both intensely involved in, and is also completely hands-off. He can complete many things from his end, and has, from what he told me earlier. But the biggest part is ultimately up to you and your body, and I expect he's feeling quite a bit lost."

[thewisdomwithin]

"Oh, I do see what you mean," Mokey murmured. "This isn't the sort of thing he enjoys at all, either - well, not the part where he has no control. But he does love that we're going to have this baby... It must be hard for him to balance those two things. But there must be something I can do to help a little, right?"

[moneymatters]

"Keep him involved. Give him things to occupy himself, because I'd wager it's in the downtime when he feels the most stressed. Have the others go with him on trips or just spend time with him. When you're feelin' sore, get a massage from Gobo over one of the others, or get him to help with meal preparations.

"Basically, include him, or continue to, rather. Be there for him and before you know it, this will have passed."

[thewisdomwithin]

Mokey nodded as she listened, being sure to commit it all to memory... Then, a thought occurred to her and she frowned deeply. "And I've been trying to get him to step away and rest! Oh, this is all so new, and I just didn't know..." She shook her head and took on a determined expression. "At least I do now, though. And Gobo and I can do things together - and I know the others will be happy to spend more time with him, too."

[moneymatters]

He gave her a gentle smile, lightly placing a hand on her arm. "Rest is important too, Mokey. For you and for him. But when rest isn't workin', it might be time to find other alternatives."

Sitting back, he snickered softly at a thought and gestured vaguely at the mansion past. "Just be sure he doesn't mix the two teas together again. Even when he does wake up it may take him a couple hours to completely come around."

[thewisdomwithin]

Mokey smiled softly in return, and nodded. "I'll make sure. And if I forget, Boober might already know," she giggled. "As for today, once he wakes up, I think Gobo and I should talk about this. I can tell him what you told me to do. He'll like it a lot."

[moneymatters]

"Aye, I'm sure he'll appreciate it quite a lot." He glanced at her, smiling. "In the meantime, how are you and the baby doing? Have you two considered names yet?"

[thewisdomwithin]

Mokey giggled. "Very well, thank you, Uncle Scrooge. And we certainly have! Gobo and I made a list, and we've been narrowing it down... Slowly," she admitted. "But I'm sure we'll have one by the time the baby comes! And soon, from what I'm reading, the baby will start kicking! I'm excited for that part, to feel them moving around."

[moneymatters]

He laughed warmly and nodded, smiling. "You know, Jinji and I didnae have names for the two until they were nearly hatched, so I think you're right on track for that." A soft snicker. "Ach, but feeling the baby move is exciting, I'm sure you'll love it. Be sure to share that, it can be felt from the outside, too."

[thewisdomwithin]

"Oh, really? Well, you and Aunt Jinji had to come up with two names, after all," she pointed out with a grin. "And yes, it's going to be so nice to share that with everyone! I just... I love them already, Uncle Scrooge. So much. I really do!"

[moneymatters]

"Then that baby is goin' to come into an amazing world. They'll have you and Gobo, the other Fraggles, and the rest o' us here, too. They're going to have so much love around them."

[thewisdomwithin]

Mokey's eyes began to well up at those words, and she nodded. "I-" she sniffed. How much of that was the hormones? It was hard to say. "Yes, they will. And I'm so grateful for that..."

[moneymatters]

He smiled, pulling his handkerchief out and handing it over to her. At a sudden thought, he couldn't help but laugh.

"Mokey, out o' curiosity what are Fraggle color genetics like? I can't help but think that baby might come out quite... eclectic."

[thewisdomwithin]

Mokey wiped her eyes, then giggled into the handkerchief at the question. "Oh, well, it's tricky to say. Gobo looks so much like his great-uncle, according to the Storyteller, so... It's not always direct, hmm?" She smiled and shrugged a bit. "I can't imagine what the baby will look like... And that's another thing that's exciting! I don't know what they'll look like or even be like!"

[moneymatters]

He nodded with a light laugh. "You know, it was like that with the twins. While hybrids are hardly uncommon, my and Jinji's species are still quite different, and neither o' us were sure quite what Jade and Dunlin would come out looking like. It's been rather exciting seein' them, both when they were newly hatched and now, as they're getting older."

[thewisdomwithin]

"Ooh, yes! It's quite like that, you're right! And the twins are growing up so beautifully, too..." She patted her stomach very lightly. "I can't wait. I love this part, but once the baby's born... Oh, it's going to be wonderful. Oh! I have a question, though... Baby showers. That's something someone mentioned to Gobo, now, is that a shower I take now, or one the baby takes later?"

[moneymatters]

He looked at her for a long moment, then cleared his throat- to swallow his laugh. "No no dearie, a baby shower is another term for a type o' celebration. It's a party, generally involving the mother and her closest friends, who will bring gifts for the mother-to-be and her baby. Things like clothing, bassinets, bottles, and so on. Oftentimes there's also themed games to be played or food served, but on the whole it's like a ceremony to help the one or ones involved travel into parenthood."

[thewisdomwithin]

Mokey's eyes widened at this explanation, her smile growing wide. "A party? It's a party? Well, the others and I have to have one, then! After all, it sounds very Fraggleish!"

[moneymatters]

Alright, now he can let the laugh out. "Honestly lass, I'm surprised you and the others, being Fraggles, haven't had one already. I'm sure you'll have a fun time, though."

[thewisdomwithin]

"Well, there's been so much to prepare! Red made the most darling helmet for the baby to wear when it plays, and Boober is being very conscientious about the baby having food, and Wembley-" She paused to stifle a laugh on her end, now. "Well, he tried very hard to help me with the list of names when I asked him, but it actually ended up being longer after that."

[moneymatters]

He chuckled softly, thinking to himself that that all sounded about right. "Seems like all of you have plenty of those preparations well in hand, at least."

[thewisdomwithin]

Mokey nodded. "We do! Gobo and I are so lucky to have all the help we've got," she observed happily. "Like you said, the baby will be surrounded by love."

[moneymatters]

He nodded, smiling. "Aye, that they will. Startin' with two of the kindest, most generous people I've ever had the pleasure to meet."