Chapter 9 - A Very Eventful Night

Meet Celeste Bird, my first daughter. She was perfect. Almost...

Dayvid was obsessed with her, running into the nursery in the middle of the night to feed her, reading her bedtime stories and keeping watch over her until she fell asleep. He would often talk about her for hours on end. The name was his idea, he said that it meant 'heavenly'.
'She's beautiful!' He breathed when he saw her face for the first time. I could tell he was trying to hold back tears.

Jasper aged up in the morning, as promised.

He was still as gorgeous as the day he was born.

And he loved his new room!

In the morning I gave him a hug before he went off to school for the first time.

Tears trickled down my face as I waved him off, realising that the little baby who had kept me smiling through hard times was now growing up. Then I realised that I was barley wearing anything and probably embarrassing my son. It couldn't have been very cool to have a weeping, half-naked mother waving hysterically at you. I quickly ran back inside.

I called Katie to announce Celeste's birth. She was overjoyed. Her wedding had gone perfectly and she would fill me in on the details when she came to visit.
'You know, I'm thinking of having a baby with Brett. It's taking a lot of convincing, he doesn't think we can support another child on top of Mimi and Jake.' She told me.
'That would be great!' I said. 'Celeste could have a playmate when you come!'
'Yeah, I know. We'd need a bigger house though, you see. And I'm not sure we can afford that right now. Ah well, I've still got life in me yet so I suppose I can wait a few more years. Are you going to tell Dayvid about... you know...?'
'I don't know. I suppose I should really. I just can't find the right time.'
'Yeah, I understand. Let me know how it goes, okay?'
'Will do, bye!'
I sighed as I hung up the phone. I was going to do it, I said to myself. Just tell him. The longer you wait the worse it will be.
When I went to talk to him, however, I just couldn't bring myself to.

Jasper was sitting on the sofa when I came downstairs.
'Hey, Jass! How was your day?'
'It was great, thank you. Hatty enjoyed it too.'
'Hatty? You mean you brought you doll with you to school?'
'Don't be silly, Mum, she's a person now. Well, a sort-of person.'
'Right...' I said. I didn't want to crush his imagination. 'So, did you make any new friends?'
'Not many, actually, but I met this girl called Rebecca. She seemed pretty cool. The school lunches were gross so she used her magic to make us a grilled cheese sandwich each.'
We continued this small talk for a while longer until Dayvid called us into the kitchen for home made pizza.

Time passed and Celeste grew into a beautiful little girl.
Dayvid still spent a lot of time with her but he'd started acting kind of strangely. When he first saw her as a toddler his smile faded slightly. I wondered if he knew.

I planned on trying to tell him again but when I went to find him he was leaving the house with Celeste. I watched him from the window until he was out of sight. He usually let me know before he went out, especially if he was with one of the kids. I wondered where he was going.

When he got home he just sat on the sofa with Celeste for almost an hour, just staring into space. He only got up when Celeste woke in his arms.

That evening I was having a shower when I heard the bathroom door open. I could see Dayvid through the glass as he removed his clothes. Without speaking he slid back the shower door and joined me -

- Leaving Celeste downstairs with Jasper. Looks like Celeste is a werewolf like me.

The next full moon, Dayvid was at work and couldn't get out of it. I gave Jasper instructions as I lit the living room fireplace.
'Right, Jass. I'm going to transform tonight, Celeste's asleep in the nursery. I've left some blankets upstairs. I want you to bring them into Celeste's room and lock the door. You can sleep on the chair and there are books, your pyjamas, some toys and a phone up there so you can call me if you need help. I'll make you some hot chocolate and bring it up to you. Once I've turned I'll be sitting out on the porch and guarding the house. Celeste can't turn until she's a bit older so don't worry about her.'
'Yes, Mum. I'll go now.'
I stoked up the fire and went into my bedroom to light that fireplace.

Jasper did as he was told and slowly drifted off in the nursery chair.

Whilst I was in my room, I heard the sound of footsteps thundering down the stairs.
'Mum!' Jasper cried. 'Fire!'
'I'm coming!' I yelled, fumbling with my phone and dialling 999. 'Hello? Yes, fire department please. Bluebird Manor. Thank you'. I rushed into the nursery and grabbed Celeste then ran downstairs and took Jaspers hand. Together we went out onto the porch to wait for the fire engine, whereupon we were greeted by a group of zombies. I could feel the hair beginning to bristle on my back as the full moon came out from behind the clouds and Celeste (though not a fully-fledged werewolf yet) was getting restless in my arms. I thrust her into Jasper's hands and pushed through the zombies, clearing a path to the garage. 'Come on!' I shouted at him and he bolted towards me. I opened the door and let them in. Inside, I removed my jacket and wrapped it round them both. 'I'm just going back inside to get a few things. I won't be long'. 

A fire-fighter was in the living room when I got there. He didn't notice me as I ran up the stairs to my bedroom where I started gathering sentimental belongings from drawers. Suddenly, it occurred to me that I hadn't yet transformed and I couldn't work out why. Then I saw it. The barely noticeable but unmistakable baby bump. I was pregnant again.

After the fire we all slept in the same room. Celeste's cot was moved to my bedroom and Jasper joined me in my bed. Only then did I think seriously about the baby. Celeste was still so little and I wasn't sure how Jasper would react to another sibling. I was still young, too, at 25 I was already a mother of two and had yet to make a breakthrough with my career. When I heard Dayvid come back I got up and ran into his arms. We sat together in the kitchen and I told him about the fire. And the baby.
'Good.' He said when I'd finished.
'What?'
'Good. I want another baby.'
I was silent, I had a feeling where this was going. Then he said the words that sent a shiver down my spine.
'Maybe this time it will be mine.'