Meet the Howlters

New Moon

YEAR: 2053

[Winston's POV]

Winston: hey, ik it's last minute but could you please pick my kids up from school?
Dad: yeah, ofc. Why though?
Winston: Jenny just went into labor
Dad: oh! Congrats! Do you want me to drop them off at the hospital or bring them home?
Winston: home pls
Dad: ok but keep us updated. Bear and I will stay and watch the kids as long as we need to
Winston: tysm ily
Dad: I love you too

"Dad's watching the kids," I said. Snap. "Seven minutes," I mumbled, still staring at my phone.

Jenny and I had worked out a system. She'd lay in bed and snap whenever she wanted to know how far apart her contractions were. I sat next to her and basically played the roll of the human timer. I have to hand it to her, as moody as she is, she's remaining very calm, for the most part.

"Hey honey," she said.
"Yeah?"
"Did you call your boss and tell him that you won't be back for a bit,"
"Uh..."
"I'll take that as a no," she smirked. "It's fine,"
"Really?"
"Yeah," she shrugged. "We move in a few months anyway so, I see no problem,"
"You're pissed," I giggled.
"Yep,"

Dad is FaceTiming...

"Hey dad," I said.
"Hey kiddo. Can you put me on a table or something so we can see Jen too?"
"Yeah, yeah," I mumbled, bringing over a table. "Hey guys," I said.
"Hi!" everyone waved.
"How are you feeling, mum?" Charlie asked.
"I'm feeling fine, thanks,"
"What's the name of the baby gonna be?" Lydia asked.
"Yeah, mum, tell us," Charlie begged.
"We don't know yet," she sighed.
"Can we name her, mum?" Charlie pleaded.
"Yeah, mum, please! Can we name the baby?" Lydia cheered.
"Let me hear what you have and we'll decide, okay?"
"Okay!" they yelled.
"Charlie, you get first name. Lyd, you get middle,"
"Why do I get middle?" she pouted.
"Cause you were born second," Charlie teased.
"That's not fair!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Enough!" Jenny yelled. Snap.
"Six minutes," I mumbled.
"I wish for death," she mumbled. "Okay, Charlie, you said you wanted to name her Lara?"
"I wanted to," bear yelled from the lounge.
"Daniel, honey, shut up," Jenny said.
"Jennifer, darling-"
"Bear," I warned. "Don't,"
"I'll shut up..."
"Charlie, do you actually like the name Lara or are you just saying it cause papa wants it?"
"I really, really, really like it, mum,"
"Do you like it, Winnie?" she asked.
"Yeah," I smiled. "I do,"
"I do too,"she beamed. "Lyd, what do you want for a middle name?"
"Grace!" she cheered.

Jenny and I burst out laughing at the silly little girl. Lydia sat there, smiling proudly at the name she had come up with.

"Do you guys not like it?" she pouted.
"No, no, sweetie, we love it," Jenny reassured.
"Really?"
"Yes-" Snap. "Really,"
"Four minutes," I said.
"Mum, why do you keep snapping?" Lydia asked.
"So I can see how far apart my contractions are,"
"Aren't you hooked up to a machine that tells you how far you're dilated?" dad asked.
"They don't hook you up to that until they're two minutes apart," Jenny huffed.
"You're halfway there," bear teased.
"Now is not the time, Daniel!"
"Why do you only yell at me?"
"Cause you're the only one with a smart mouth,"
"Fair enough," he sighed. "Well, we gotta go. The kids have homework and I have to start making dinner. Good luck Jenny, we love you. Say goodbye, guys,"
"Bye mum!" they cheered.
"Bye guys, we love you," we simultaneously said, hanging up.
"Lara Grace Howlter," Jenny whispered.
"Do you not like it?"
"Not really," she grumbled. "But I also don't want the kids to feel bad,"
"They'd get over it," I said.
"Do you have any-" Snap. "Suggestions?"
"Two and a half and yes,"
"Not Mika," she hissed.
"Do you even know what Mika means?"
"No,"
"Then how can you turn it down?"
"Because I don't want your family running around yelling Mikasa!"
"It means new moon, if you were wondering,"
"I wasn't," she rolled her eyes. "I hate this, so fucking much,"
"Pregnancy or being married to me?"
"Shut up," she laughed, hitting my arm. "Seriously, do you have any other names?"
"A few,"
"May I hear them?"
"Charlotte,"
"That's a whores name,"
"That's your mothers name,"
"I know... Continue,"
"Vivien,"
"No,"
"Margaret,"
"She's not coming out a thousand, dear lord, Winston,"
"Fine, do you have any ideas?"
"No, I-" Snap. "Don't,"
"Two minutes. Page an O.B."
"On it," she mumbled. "Okay, whatever, let's move onto middle names,"
"I say we keep Grace,"
"Why?"
"Because, Grace is Lydia's best friend,"
"Then how come we've never met her?"
"Well, because, she's a bit older,"
"How much older?"
"She's the teachers assistant in dance class. She was nice to Lyd when everyone else was picking on her. And, she's going off to Uni soon and Lydia is gonna miss her, and-"
"Fine, we can keep Grace,"
"You're the best," I kissed her cheek. "I love you,"
"I know,"
"Hi, Dr. Howlter," a co-worker smiled. "Let's get started, shall we?"

***

Several hours passed and before we knew it, it was midnight. Jenny was still stuck in a pained filled labor, and we were still childless. She was started to get annoyed by the situation and she was especially scary when she was literally any other emotion then happy. Around two in the morning, the doctor came back in and told her it was time to push.

I stood next to the bed, holding Jenny's hand, and letting her squeeze it as much as she needed. After, what felt like an eternity, we finally had our baby girl.

Despite the fact that she was screaming, and was covered in blood, she was absolutely gorgeous. A nurse quickly took her from the doctor, to wipe her off, and wrap her in a blanket. As she was doing so, I sat next to Jenny in bed and gave her a tight hug. Tears were streaming down her face; not entirely sure if it was from pain or happiness. After a few minutes, the nurse carefully set the adorable, now calm, baby in Jenny's arms.

"Dr. Howlter-"
"Jen," she corrected.
"Jen, what would you like to name her?"

Jenny stared lovingly at our new addition to the family. A smile quickly grew across her face as she held the baby closer.

"Lara Grace Howlter."