sixwordstories | (no subject)

"Good news?"

There is, likely understandably, hesitance in Eileen's response. There's a brief freezing up. There's a nervous watchfulness.

"Really?"

"Really, Eileen."

And whatever it is has her smiling, looking even happier than she has these past months, despite the struggle it's been to recover from losing Argine. Surely that's a good sign, isn't it?

"I promise."

The smile certainly helps. The smile has her shoulders relaxing a hair as she moves to settle down properly on the sofa.

"About you?"

"About me," she confirms with a nod and another smile as she shifts to face her better once she sits.

"Are you ready?"

It's hard to really be ready for any news. It's hard to have total faith in the genuine 'goodness' of any news.

But she can push her own hesitant attempt at a smile.

"What is it, Auntie?"

The hesitant smile is helpful. Taking her hand is as well, hopefully.

"You're-- going to have a cousin, little one. I'm-- I'm pregnant."

And it's a good thing. It's so clearly a good thing, based on the smile on her face. It's not something that's chasing Elliot off or making Rachel panic much more than any expecting mother would.

Her fingers squeeze Rachel's tight. Her eyes search carefully over her aunt's face for any signs of deception.

"...r-really?"

And it was really a good thing? It was really going to keep her smile like this?

"Really," she murmurs reassuringly, squeezing her hand back and smile staying firm, "Just made sure of it yesterday."

"And you're-- happy."

She needs to say it to believe it. She needs to say it to let the hesitant smile begin to form properly on her own lips.

"It's-- with Uncle Elliot?"

"I'm happy, little one." It needs to get out there, first, "And yes, it's with Uncle Elliot. And he's-- he's happy, too."

Which she never would have expected, but it's absolutely wonderful.

"He is?"

She doesn't mean to sound surprised. She loves her part-time uncle absolutely to pieces, but she's never quite seen him as a model of sticking around for this sort of thing.

She wants it to be true, of course. She wants to have a beautiful new baby cousin to love and she wants to have her uncle firmly in her life.

And, above all, she wants to have her aunt smiling just like this.

"He is."

Which is a surprise, she knows. It doesn't seem like something Elliot would be inclined to do at all whatsoever. And yet, here they are.

"Are-- are you?"

Her own laugh is soft, surprised as she leans forward on the couch to throw her arms properly around her aunt's shoulders.

"O-oh, Aunt Rachel, of-- of course I'm happy. How could I not be? This-- this is wonderful news."

Finally good news. Finally.

"I'm glad you think so," she murmurs, throwing her arms back around her niece tightly.

It's wonderful, being the bearer of good news with all the bad they've faced so far.

"You'll-- let me help, Auntie, right?"

Not that she had much experience helping with a newborn--or, really, with pregnant women. It just felt important to stay close, now more than ever.

"Of course, little one. As much as you're able."

They'll figure out how to navigate the way together.

It helps to hear. It helps to solidify the lines between them; to let go of the tiniest flicker of insecurity that being an actual mother would take Rachel away from being a partial aunt.

It would be an easier loss, yes, but it would still be one. This helped reframe it (and Dr Milo would be so proud) as only a gain.

"Congratulations, Aunt Rachel."

"Thank you, little one."

Said, of course, with the entirely obligatory press of her lips against her niece's hair.