~Pregnancy Countdown: 20 Weeks (5 months)~
"Dad, do I have to go?" Amity says into her scroll, rooting through her closet for her dress.
Tonight was a special night for Blight Industries. Tonight was a very formal party. The goal is to set up business deals between Blight Industries and other businesses on the Isles. Which means all three children needed to be there.
"Yes, Amity. " Alador says over the phone. "You know your brother and sister aren't as... composed as you are."
"Hey!" Amity hears Edric yell, making her snicker. "Okay, fine. But do I have to wear this particular dress?"
"What's wrong with your dress?" Alador asks. Amity thinks. "Well I'm just not sure it'll still fit. I've gained a bit of weight."
"I mean, there are spells for that, Mittens."
Amity rolls her eyes. "It's also a bit... out there."
"Hey! Do you not remember how hard it was to find a dress that you liked?!" Emira yells into the phone, and into Amity's ear. Amity pulls the phone away from her ear.
"It's not that I don't like it. It's just really eye-catching, I think. And I've been having some issues with drawing attention to myself..." she admits. Emira sighs. "Just get your butt in the dress and wear a jacket. Ed and I won't survive without you, especially since Hunter has some CATs party tonight as well."
"Wait, that's TONIGHT?!" Amity exclaims. Because if Hunter couldn't go tonight, that means Luz couldn't go either.
'Damn it!'
"Yup. So you're stuck with us." Edric says into the phone. Amity groans. "Okay now I have to stay home. Can't Ed and Em behave for one night?"
"They can't even behave for one phone call." Alador says, "You're going, Mittens. Even if I have to send Emira to get you."
Amity sighs. "Okay, fine. I'll see you there." She says, pulling her dress out of her closet. "Great. See you there, Mittens." Alador says before hanging up. Amity looks at her dress. An amethyst-colored dress with a crossover neckline and sleeves that went about ¾ down her arm. The dress went about an inch below her knee. All-in-all, not a bad dress, and was specifically designed for pregnant witches, so that's a plus.
Just when Amity finished changing, Luz walks into the room. "Hey babe, have you seen my-" she stops when she sees Amity in the dress. "Oh, hell~lo." Luz says flirtatiously, watching her wife become a flustered tomato. She smiles. "You look lovely tonight."
Amity lets out an incoherent squeak. Luz smirks at this and pulls the flustered witch closer. She leans into Amity's ear and whispers, "absolutely gorgeous."
Amity whines softly. "Do you have to go tonight? Can't we just stay here?" Luz chuckles. "As much as I would love to, the thing I'm going to is super mandatory. Like, they're paying us to be there." She says. "Even though I'd rather be with you tonight."
Amity sighs, wrapping her arms around Luz's neck. "Well, I'll see you later, right?" She asks. Luz quickly nods. "Absolutely. I'll come home and we'll cuddle till the sun rises."
Amity smiles, kissing Luz's cheek. "It's a promise."
Luz smiles. "Now, I need to finish getting ready or else she I'm going to be late. Have you seen my watch?" She starts to look around the room, on the dresser, and under the bed.
Amity giggles. "You mean the one that's on your wrist?"
Luz stops and slowly looks towards her left wrist, which had her watch. She chuckles nervously. "There it is. Thank you."
Amity smiles, slightly fidgeting with her hands. Luz looks at her. "Is everything okay? What's wrong?" She asks. Amity sighs. "I'm just nervous, I guess? I don't know."
"Nervous? Your family's business is one of the biggest in the Isles." Luz says. "I know, but that's the thing. That means a lot of people are going to be there and talking to me and looking at me, and..."
"And you don't like having all those eyes on you?" Luz asks. Amity nods, hugging her. Luz hugs back, before getting an idea. "Ooh! Brain wave!"
She quickly pulls away from the hug, leaving Amity confused. Before she could say anything, Luz pulls her arms through the sleeves of her suit jacket. Once it was finally off, she hands it to Amity. "Here. If you start getting uncomfortable, you can put it on." She explains. Amity takes that jacket cautiously. "Are you sure...? I don't want you to think that I'm trying to hide-"
Luz cuts her off. "Babe, don't worry about that." She says. "Even if you were trying to hide the bump, that's your choice. But this is me trying to comfort you from another place. Cause when you put it on, it'll feel like a hug." She says. Amity smiles. "Okay. Thank you, batata."
"Don't mention it, Love. Now I really need to go. I'll see you when I get home." Luz says, exiting the room.
"See you when you get home." Amity calls out. Hearing the front door shut, Amity takes a seat on the bed to get her shoes on. Once she slips on her black flats, she puts on Luz's jacket. She takes a deep breath, the scent of watermelon and lemonade instantly hitting her nose.
Luz's perfume.
She smiles. 'It really does feel like a hug from Luz.'
She checks the time, before standing up and preparing to leave. She made sure she had everything. Keys, scroll, breath mints for Ed.
...
Once everything was in her possession, she left the house, making sure to lock the front door behind her. She pulls up the address that Emira had sent her and begins to walk. The brisk nighttime air made her grateful that Luz had given up her jacket, but also guilty that Luz had to walk in this.
Once she arrives, she looks around for her father and siblings. She did not want to go in by herself.
"Mittens!" She hears the twins yell in the distance, the two running to their little sister and engulfing her in a hug. Amity hugs them back, smiling. "Hey guys."
"Gonna be honest, I thought you weren't gonna show." Edric says, pulling away from the bear hug with Emira following suit. "I wouldn't have if you two could behave yourselves." Amity replies with a cheeky grin. Emira gasps. "I can't believe you, Mittens." She says dramatically.
Amity giggles. "Can we just go in? It's cold out here." she asks. Edric nods, stretching his arms. "Yes please. I'd like to hurry this up and get home." he says.
Alador stops them. "Before we go in, this is important. I need all three of you on your best behavior. Edric, Emira, I'm talking to you. No pranks."
"Whatever do you mean, dear father?" Emira asks innocently. "Why, Edric and I haven't even thought about pranking in a long time." She says. Alador raises a brow at his oldest. "Yeah, that's why Edric has stink bombs in his pocket, right?"
The twins freeze, glancing at each other, then at their father.
"Those are for self-defense." Edric says. Alador crosses his arms. "How exactly is a stink bomb going to defend you against anything?" he asks.
Edric pulls a small stink bomb out of his pocket. "Let's for a second assume that someone were to assault me. I throw this on the ground behind them, it activates. The person is suddenly the center of attention, because the smell is coming from them. Others accuse them of far-" Edric pauses upon receiving a stern look from his father, "- passing gas, and they have to leave me be in order to defend themself. Boom, I have defended myself with the power of stink!"
Silence.
Amity's lip starts to quiver, before she bursts into laughter. Her family watches curiously as she begins gasping for air between her laughs.
"I'm sorry. But that's the single smartest thing I've ever heard him say." She says between her laughs. Emira snickers, and Alador just smiles. Edric, meanwhile, watches his younger sister with a super offended glare.
Once Amity calms down, Alador clears his throat and holds his hands out to the twins. "Both of you, hand them over."
Edric reaches into his pocket and pulls out the stink bombs, handing them over with a grumble. Alador turns his attention to Emira, who just stands there innocently. "You too." He says. With a roll of her eyes, Emira hands him the smoke bombs she was keeping in her jacket sleeve.
Alador raises a brow. "You really expect me to believe that's it?"
Amity snickers as the twins begrudgingly pull Glitter bombs out of their pockets.
"Now these are going in my pocket, because my pockets have zippers. You'll get them back after the party."
Emira scoffs. "Your pockets may have zippers, but my dress has pockets! Tell me which one of us is cooler." She says smugly.
It takes everything in Amity not to burst into laughter again. "Can we please just go inside?" She asks instead.
Edric nods quickly. "Yeah, it's cold out here." He says. Alador nods. "Yes, we can go inside now."
The three siblings go inside. The sounds of idle chatter and pretentious laughter fill their ears. Amity looks around, almost instantly spotting a familiar face.
"Luz!" She calls out. The Latina turns around and instantly runs to her, engulfing the purple-haired witch in a hug. "Ams! I didn't think I'd see you so soon." she says. Amity hugs her back. "Me neither. I thought we were going to different places."
"I guess it just didn't register to us." Luz says, holding Amity tight.
"Luzy~! Who's this?"
Luz sighs, pulling away from the hug before turning around. "Alexa, this is my wife, Amity."
Amity eyes the girl up and down. Her brown and pink hair tied tightly in a bun, and a floor-length white dress with spaghetti straps.
"Amity, this is Alexa." Luz says, holding Amity's hand. Amity looks at Luz, a surprised expression on her face. "Oh, this is Alexa?"
Alexa raises a brow. Amity turns to her and gives her a bright smile. "It's nice to finally meet you! Luz has told me so much about you." she holds her hand out for a handshake. "All good things, I hope." Alexa says, shaking Amity's hand.
"Good to know."
They share a laugh, and then a long sigh. Luz watches with a worried look in her eyes.
"Well, this was a great meeting, but I think your dad is calling us, Ams." Luz says. Amity smiles at her. "You go on ahead. I'd like to get to know Alexa a bit more."
Luz nods, slowly backing away. Once she was far enough, she rushes to Lillie and Hunter.
"Guys! I need your help. I think Amity's about to commit a murder." She says quickly. Lillie gasps. "Wait, did Alexa..."
Luz nods.
"And we're not there to watch?!" Hunter exclaims. Luz crosses her arms. "Guys, this is serious. Amity is being way too nice to Alexa. If we don't intervene soon, she's going to rip her head off."
Hunter thinks. "Maybe she's giving Alexa the benefit of the doubt?" he suggests. Lillie shakes her head. "Nah, I bet she's just getting Alexa to lower her guard, only to scare the ever-living hell out of her later."
Hunter and Luz both look at Lillie, who shrugs. "What?! It's what I'd do."
Luz sighs. "Can you two just help me keep my wife from killing someone?" she asks. "Let me ask you this: Why are you so worried? One: it's not like Alexa doesn't deserve it, and two: Amity's a sweetheart. What makes you think she would kill someone."
"Her mother is Odalia Blight."
Silence.
"You know, I don't think I've ever met her." Lillie says. Hunter puts his hand on her shoulder. "You fortunate soul."
Luz pulls them back to Amity and Alexa, who continue chattering away. The three hide behind a nearby table, spying.
"What d'ya think they're talking about?" Hunter whispers. Luz whispers back, "I don't know, but it can't be good."
~
"So, Amity," Alexa starts, after Amity returns from getting a drink, "I couldn't help but notice that Luz introduced you as her 'wife'," She says while using air quotes, "but she doesn't talk about you while we're working."
Amity takes a sip of her drink, "Well, Luz and I like to keep some sort of privacy with people we don't consider close, so I'm not really that surprised she hasn't mentioned me." Amity watches Alexa's grip tighten around her glass, a smile forming on the abomination witch's face.
"Anyway..." Alexa says through gritted teeth. "How long have you and Luz been together?" she asks. Amity thinks. "Um... about 8 years or so, I think. But time flies when you're in love, you know how it goes."
"Totes."
Amity drinks more fruit punch, having way too much fun messing with this girl.
"By the way, I couldn't help but notice that you're pregnant." Alexa says, before adding "I hope that hasn't put any sort of strain on your guys' marriage. After all, a lot of people cheat on their pregnant spouses."
It takes everything in Amity to not snicker. This poor girl is reaching for anything to make Amity feel insecure, and Amity knows it.
Amity clears her throat. "Yes, that's true. But Luz isn't like that. If she felt like she had a need that wasn't being met, she'd talk to me about it. You know, one thing we've been told by friends and family is that we're great at communicating with each other." she stops and thinks. "You know, I'm not used to talking to someone who's so concerned about her coworker's marriage. Most people aren't like that."
~
Lillie snickers loudly. "This is great! Even better than I thought it would be!" she whispers to Luz and Hunter. "What is even happening?" Hunter whispers back. Lillie snickers some more. "They're discreetly fighting, and you can clearly tell who's winning!"
"What do you mean?" Luz whispers. Then, Edric and Emira appear. "Hey guys, what're we watching?" Emira asks, ducking behind the table with them. Edric follows.
"We're watching Amity give a verbal ass-beating to the chick who keeps flirting with her wife." Lillie says. Emira watches. "Ooh, how's it going?"
"Well, Alexa keeps trying to make your sister feel insecure in any way she can think of." Lillie starts to explain, "And Amity, like a queen might I add, is completely fucking with her."
"Yo, go Mittens!" Emira whispers.
Luz and Hunter share a smirk, both turning their attention to Edric.
~
"Amity!" A voice calls Amity from afar. Amity looks in the direction of the voice, seeing her father waving her over. "Oh, my dad is calling." She thinks aloud before turning back to Alexa. "Better not keep him waiting, but this was fun." She says, setting her now empty glass down on a nearby table. "We should do this again soon." she reaches out for another handshake. Alexa shakes her hand. "Absolutely. It was a pleasure to meet you." she says. Amity giggles, "The pleasure was all mine."
They separate, and Amity makes her way to her father. Alador watches her. "Was that a friend of yours?" he asks. Amity shrugs. "You could say."
Edric and Emira suddenly appear behind her. "Damn, Mittens!" Edric says, "Didn't know you had it in you!" He says. Amity jumps a bit from being startled. "Jeez! You scared me!"
"Word through the grapevine is that girl's been hitting on Luz at work." Emira says, completely ignoring the near-heart attack they gave their sister. Amity nods. "Yeah, but I think I handled that pretty well." She says.
"I know. You didn't even hit her." Hunter says, showing up with Luz and Lillie. Amity smiles. "Oh there you three are! Did you enjoy the show?" She asks innocently. "Yes!" Lillie replies, giving her finger guns.
Emira giggles, and Alador smiles. Amity rolls her eyes. "And Hunter, I hit her in her feelings."
"She's fuming right now." Lillie says, watching Alexa in the distance. "She looks like she's about to catch on fire."
"Well then," Emira starts, "maybe it's time to put her out, right Ed?"
Edric nods. "Sounds good."
Alador seems to catch on to what they were implying. "Oh no-"
Too late. The twins both draw spell circles, and the fire alarm starts to go off as they do. Suddenly, the sprinklers also go off, drenching everyone in multi-colored water.
Multi-colored?
"Wha- When did you two find time for this?!" Alador asks angrily. Emira shrugs. "We set it up earlier."
Many of the older guests tried using their jackets and shawls to shield them, while the younger guests began dancing and playing in the downpour.
Luz laughs. "This is awesome!" She says as she starts jumping in the pool of water forming on the ground.
"This is why we told you guys not to wear white." Emira says, gesturing to both Luz and Lillie. Lillie shrugs. "I wore it specifically because you told me not to and I have no regrets!" She says, jumping in the puddles.
After a few minutes, the sprinklers turn off, to the dismay of many guests. Luz groans. "Dang it, I was having fun." She pouts. Amity smiles. "Love, you're completely soaked."
"And if you don't wash it as soon as you get home, that shirt will stain." Edric says. Luz shrugs. "I'm sure it'll be fine. I didn't really like this shirt anyway."
Amity sighs, but the group stops as Alexa approaches with a slightly empty cup of fruit punch. "I figured I'd come and say goodbye to everyone before I left, since my dress was completely ruined in that accident." She says, handing her cup to Amity. "Here, you looked thirsty. I only had a little bit, don't worry."
Amity takes the cup. "Alright. It was nice to meet you." She says. Alexa opens her arms. "Hug?"
Setting the glass down, Amity goes in for the hug. Alexa whispers into her ear "One day, Luz will be mine."
With a small smile, Amity whispers back.
"Don't hold your breath."
They pull away from the hug. Alexa leaves in a huff, while Amity just smiles and picks her glass back up.
"Did she say anything to you?" Luz asks. Amity shrugs.
"Nothing important." She says before taking a sip.