Gen 6. Chapter 5: Out of the Blue

After our fabulous weekend together, it was back to the daily grind. Jazz was just days away from finding out if he made it on the Undercover Unit. And I was in the middle of helping a client locate her lost kitty cat. Oh joy!

My job was going through a boring streak, but that was ok. It seemed that I had some business to attend to as Mrs. Velvetcake. Like our Thank You notes from our wedding. We got more gifts than I expected!

And oh my, I though we would NEVER finish off the leftover wedding cake.

"Seriously!? That's your dinner?"

"Um, yeah, if you ever want to see a pink-free fridge again, I suggest you do the same!"

"I just want my #*@(*^%# wallet back!!"

"Calm down, Kidd. I can help you find your wallet. I don't know if I'll be able to find out who took it though."

"Argh. Fine, whatever you can find is fine. Just keep it out of the police's business, got it?"

"Yes, of course. No cops."

Ok, so you may think something is seriously wrong with me for working for a man who is a known criminal. But to be honest, Kidd was sometimes the best source of inside information on the criminal activity in town. When he called me to do this case for him, I figured I should to keep things good between us. Oh, and even if I do find out who took his wallet, I'll never tell him! I know what he would do to them, and well, there's no way I'm having any part of that!

Scouring for clues for Kidd's wallet took me all over town! I swear, this was one of the biggest pain-in-my-butt cases I ever took on!

"So, look, if you have information about it, just tell me. I promise your secrets are safe with me, and Kidd will never find out your name."

"Fine. Follow me inside."

"OK."

"So look, it was me. But I only took it for my boss. He is the one who has it."

"Ok, well, you're going to have to tell me your boss' name."

 "Well...*whispers*"

No way. His boss, the one who took Kidd's wallet is a cop?!? I can't believe it! How on earth am I going to retrieve it now?

"Hey Juniper! Haven't seen you around the station much!"

"Yeah, I've been pretty busy on my cases lately."

"Oh really? Yeah, we've been too. Hey, in your investigations, have you come across a Kidd Goldbeard?"

"Um, yeah, I think I've heard of him. Why?"

"Oh, just a case I'm working on. I need some info on him. I'm having a hard time collecting any though. I thought I got a lucky break when one of my informants brought me Kidd's wallet, but it turned out the wallet was empty. Go figure."

"Oh that stinks. Well, I'll keep my ears open for you."

"Thanks, Juniper, that would be great."

 Yes, I know, a lot of playing dumb. But you gotta do what you gotta do.

So, Kidd's wallet was empty? Well, that was good and bad news. Bad for Kidd, knowing that whatever was so precious to him in that wallet was gone. But good, because at least it was empty before the police got it and not after. But in order to get my paycheck, all I had to do was present the wallet to Kidd, and lucky for me, I knew the guy that was in charge of evidence for the police department, and since the wallet was useless evidence it could disappear pretty easily without anyone noticing.

But that would have to wait until tomorrow, I had a party to attend! It was one of Jazz's co-workers parties, so it was beneficial for both of our careers to be there.

With both of us working that evening, Jazz and I agreed to meet at the party rather than going together. So I drove home to get dressed and took a taxi there. I had only been there a few minutes and had said my hellos to everyone when Jazz showed up. He greeted everyone, then winked at me while taking my hand and led me outside.

"What's up? We just got here so we should..."

"I know. We should go back in. But I haven't seen you all day, and you look gorgeous. Why don't we blow off the party and go out on a date?"

"Um, well, OK, sure!"

My sweet Jazz wanted my undivided attention for the evening. How could I say no to that?

We went out to eat, had some dessert, and were having such a good time we ordered after dinner drinks. I say drinks, plural because he and I both got a little juiced.

After the taxi dropped us off, we stumbled and giggled all the way into the house, and decided 3 flights of stairs and two juiced Sims do not mix. We laughed and stumbled our way to the guest room downstairs instead.

As we both plopped down on the bed, Jazz put his arm around me and said,

"I wanna make a baby with you."

I laughed and sorted (darn nectar!) and said, "OK, let me go change...."

But all of a sudden, his face sobered and he said, "No, I don't mean like that, I'm not being silly. I really want to have a baby with you."

My giggling was instantly stifled. I could tell this wasn't the drinks talking. He really meant it.

"Uh. Ok." I said, not really sure what I was agreeing to.

We slept off the effects of the night before until we absolutely had to get up. But even after breakfast and coffee, I still felt blah. Jazz and I were going to have to stop with the one too many drinks thing. I think our bodies were getting too old for this!

With a queasy stomach, I made my way to my friend's house, the one who worked in the evidence room. When I called him he said he would bring the wallet home with him and I could pick it up from him there, out of the view of the other officers.

Thankfully, Richie was a good enough friend that he trusted me and didn't ask too many question about why I needed the wallet. After chatting and gossiping about the latest drama at the station, I said my goodbye and headed over to Kidd's house to return it.

I could only hope he wouldn't ask too many questions about the wallet. I wanted my involvement with the police to stay as hush-hush as possible with Kidd. 

Kidd was nowhere to be found, so I left him a message and went home. I felt dizzy, nauseous, and realized I hadn't eaten all day.

The only thing that sounded good was soup. Just as I was finishing up, I heard Jazz come home. And when he walked in the kitchen, I had to hold back a giggle. He was decked out from head to toe as a 5 star chef!

"Alright, I can see you wanna laugh, so just go ahead already."

"Sorry babe, I just...hehe... um.. I thought you took the day off?"

"Me too. but I got a call and had to go."

"And you were...?"

"I can't say anything else, you know that. But I will say, I pull off a mean chef."

 "Oh, I'm sure you do."

He looked me in the eyes. He must have noticed how awful I felt.

"What's wrong? You look like you don't feel good?"

"Well, that's because I don't. No more ending our nights with copious amounts of nectar. I just can't take it!"

"Aw, poor baby! Here, turn around."

Jazz gave me an amazing massage, which was just what I needed to head off to sleep.

Even though it was late afternoon, I was out the minute my head hit the pillow.

The next thing I remember was waking up with the overpowering urge to throw up! I barely made it to the bathroom in time. But at least after I vomited, I felt better. I  checked my phone before laying back down and realized I had missed 7 calls from Kidd! Uh-Oh!

I immediately called him and all he said was, "About time! Meet me in 20 minutes." And hung up.

I dressed as quickly as I could and went to our agreed meeting place. I gave him his wallet.

He surprised me about his reaction that it was empty. He actually seemed relieved, and all he said was, "Good, he can keep his legs then." Eek! What ever that meant! He was more concerned that I told him I got it out of police evidence to get it back to him. I wasn't going to tell him that, but I also didn't know what else to say to scare him off of asking more questions.

"Are you sure no one is going to miss it?"

"I'm almost positive. The officer told me it was useless to him."

Kidd smiled a sly, mysterious smile and said, "Good. You did good. Here's your money." And with that, he was off.

Well, although he gave me a lot to be curious about, at least that was over with! As soon as I got home, I curled up next to Jazz and fell fast asleep. Again.

I woke up in the middle of the night, this time it wasn't nausea that woke me, but shivering, from cold! I grabbed a jacket from the closet, and before I laid back down, it hit me like a bolt of lightening.

The tiredness, dizziness, nausea, and feeling chilly...my hormones were out of whack! At the same time I recalled Jazz's words to me that night. "I really want to have a baby with you."

I was PREGNANT!

When I awoke the next morning, my appetite had returned. I immediately headed to the fridge to see what it had to offer. Jazz had already finished his breakfast and asked, "How are you feeling today? Better?"

 

"Much," I said in between bites. Going all day yesterday with little food took its toll, and now it was time to make up for it!

Jazz left to get dressed and as I sat there eating my cake, I realized I had major news to share with him! How could I have forgotten! But, how should I tell him?

I decided to go the plain and simple route, and just say it. When he came back downstairs, I came right out with it.

"Jazz, I need to tell you something."

 

"Ok, what is it?" I could tell he had no idea what I was getting ready to say to him.

"Well, you remember the other night when you said you wanted to have a baby with me?"

"Yes," he answered slowly. "I suppose you want to talk about that, right? I know that probably wasn't the best time to bring it up, but..."

"Well, yes, it was out of the blue, but although the details are foggy, I do recall agreeing to it."

"Yes, you did. But if you want to change your..."

"No, it's ok! I meant it. And I hope you did too, because... it's happening."

 I looked at him with the surest face I could muster, and when he got it, a shocked look of recognition came over his face.

"You're pregnant!?!"

"Yep. I am."

He was so excited, it was adorable. And while I left him to share the good news with his mom and our family, I left to get started on a new case. With a baby on the way, I knew my time was probably limited on how long I could work.

 

 Unfortunately, this case had to do with the graveyard, and it was just plain creepy. Someone had been taking urns and gravestones, and they wanted me to figure out who and why.

After several trips to the graveyard to look for evidence, I realized that I was going to have to stake out the place at night to get anywhere. How was I going to convince Jazz that a pregnant woman was perfectly capable and safe doing a stake out at a graveyard at night? Well, I probably wasn't going to, so I kept quiet about it for the time being, trying to stall until there was a night he would be called away to work and I could leave and come back and he would be none the wiser.

Meanwhile, I read every pregnancy book I could get my hands on. I really wanted to be prepared, but I hadn't been around a baby since, well, my brothers were babies ages and ages ago!

Jazz spoiled me and pampered me to no end. He would set up spa appointments for me, and if I even so much as winced from my sore back, he was there immediately giving me a mini-massage.

Every chance he got he was talking to and rubbing my belly. He was through the roof when he felt the baby kick! Yep, there was no way he was going to let me do a stakeout. And I was feeling guilty for trying to do it behind his back anyways. Maybe it could wait until after the baby came after all.

When the time grew near for our baby to make its appearance, we decided to have Jazz's mom, Royal over to stay and help with the delivery and such. We liked the idea of a home birth, but the only way I would feel comfortable with that was having an experienced mom I trusted there. And of course, Royal was beyond excited to be here when her little grandson or granddaughter arrived.

"Oh my, Juniper! you look like you could pop!"

"Haha, well, thanks, Mom."

"Oh, now, don't take offense sweetie, you are beautiful and glowing. Pregnancy suits you."

As we walked up the steps together I replied, "Aw, thank you. Well, I feel like I could pop, too. But the baby seems to be quite comfortable."

"Hm. Well, let me have a feel here, and see." She rubbed on my belly, and then announced, "In the next 24 hours. I'd bet my house on it."

"Really? Well, I haven't felt anything at all, not one single contraction."

"Mark my words, honey. You'll be a momma by this time tomorrow."

Royal immediately found Jazz upon entering the house and gave him a to do list a mile long.

"And don't dawdle now. Your baby is coming soon!"

Jazz gave me a puzzled look, and I just shrugged. Who was I to argue with a mom who had been there twice before?

When Royal felt that Jazz had done a satisfactory job of making all the last minute preparations, she finally eased up and decided to go for a dip in our hot tub.

 I sat town next to Jazz, who had just turned on a video game, and grabbed a controller to play too.

"So, wow, my mom was no joke just now! She really thinks this baby is coming tonight?"

"Yeah, apparently. I don't feel anything, but I've never known your mom to be wrong."

"True. I guess we'll see. Are you ready for this?"

"I guess, I mean, how ready can you really be? What about you, Daddy? You ready?"

"I guess as about ready as you are. But it's ok. We'll figure it out together."

I liked the sound of that. Together. Our little family. We would be a family together.

After I changed for bed, I felt restless. I don't know if it was Royal's prediction about tonight being the night, or just nerves in general, or a mix of both. But I just couldn't sleep.

I decided to do what I always did to relieve stress, play my guitar.

At this point, I had pretty much mastered the guitar. It felt good to be able to pick it up and play any song I wanted and to play so skillfully, I'd lose myself in the music.

Once I felt more relaxed, I put the guitar up. But on my way to bed, Jazz found me.

"Hey, mommy to be. How are you feeling? I was looking for you."

"I feel good. Relaxed now that I played a little. Ready to sleep now."

"Good. You need your rest. I just wanted to tell you I think you've done an amazing job with the pregnancy. I think you are...just...amazing."

 I was hesitant to let go as he started to head upstairs to bed. He was my rock, my everything. And there weren't words to describe how happy I was knowing that his baby was growing inside me.

Just then I felt a little kick, then my belly got really hard. I grabbed it in shock. Then the pain came.

"Juniper, what's wrong? You ok???"

"Nooooo..." I managed to moan out. "Go get your Mom! I'm in labor!"

*buckey's notes*- Yes! Baby time! Wondering how I worked out Royal being present for the birth? Well, Jazz had a wish to invite his mom over, or hang out with her, I can't remember which. So I waited until I knew Juniper was about to pop, and had her over to spend the night! Ta-da! And I don't know if you caught it, but she has completed half of her LTW, she's Mastered the Guitar skill!
I know it's been a long time in between updates, I apologize for real life being so hectic that I don't get to play or write as often as I would like. 

Just so I don't leave you all hanging for too long, (since I have no idea when I'll get the next update finished) I'll give you this little spoiler: the title of this chapter gives away a lot. Probably the questions you are all asking about the new little one. :) I'll leave you with Juniper's labor face!