#erik-licious

“Sara! The Pete came by with some flowers- woah.” She turns to see Bennet standing by the door, a disgusted expression on his face. “Which hen did that?”

“This one.” She wipes her mouth and straightens up. “Goddess that was weird. I didn't even feel sick or nothin'.”

“I uh- the Pete doesn’t want that kiss now.” He holds his hands up in surrender. “But I’ll put these in a vase for ya?”

“Sure.” She leans her shovel against the wall and follows him out. “I gotta use the lady’s room anyhow.”

Strange. She’d not had anything but a glass of juice today but she really needed to go- not to mention her stomach sort of hurt. When she comes out, Bennet’s waiting at the kitchen table, the wilting wildflowers in the pretty little vase that Sanders had bought for her their first winter together.

 “Don’t ya have work today?” She asks, crossing into the kitchen to look for an aspirin. “Yer cow’s ain’t gonna miss yer singin’?”

“Aw, Sar, don’t tell me you forgot.” He pouts. “The Pete is extremely hurt.”

“Huh…?”

“She probably just doesn’t want to go out on the town with a tub of lard.”

Oh boy. There’s her partner, at it again. She swallows the pill and walks out, hands on her hips.

“Pete, quit it right now. I ain’t havin’ ya’ll get into a brawl right now- did ya finish the plants?”

“Yes, I did. Unlike someone who didn’t finish the coops- are the hens sick?”

“Naw, that was Sara,” Bennet supplies helpfully. “Nothin’ a day out won’t cure.”

“Shoot.” Her eyes widen. “Our lunch date- that’s today, ain’t it?”

“Yep! And then we’re going back to Flowerbud where we are gonna-”

“She can’t.” Sanders shakes his head. “And I ain’t saying that just cause I hate ya, but if she’s puking like that…”

“I took medicine!” Sara protests. “Stop being an ass. Yesterday was yer day.”

“And we had a huge harvest, remember? We weren't done till sunset! It ain’t fair and-” He stops abruptly, peering into her face. “Woah, you look pale.”

“Yeah.” Bennet nods. “Like paper. I'll take a raincheck on the date, don't worry.”

“Go lie down.” Sanders steers her to the bedroom, plopping her down on the bed. “Bennet and I can finish your chores, you just rest easy, hear?”

“Um.” She wants to protest but she is feeling dizzy. “Fine, I guess.”

“Good.”

As he walks out, she hears Bennet loudly complaining about how his ‘free day’ has turned into a work day. Poor thing. At least his cows got a day of rest from that singing…

She’s out like a light as soon as her head hits the pillow.

~ ~ ~

When a week passes with little improvement, they send her to the city doctor with Parker.

“Stop fussing over me,” She growls as they get off the ferry. “It’s just a stomach bug.”

“Well even so, we gotta make sure you’re well, Sar.” He grabs her hand and guides her around a hole in the sidewalk. “Don’t worry about the visit though- I know this doctor. He’s been real good to my family for years. In fact, when I was born-”

“Great. I get to be prodded by the old man that stuck you in the butt when you were a kid.” She rolls her eyes. “I’m probably gonna be the first person in the family to ever see a doctor, ya know? How embarrassing.”

“That’s alarming.” They pause in front of a building, and he pulls her into a kiss. “I’ll meet you in the café across the street, okay? See you in a bit.”

When they meet up an hour later, it’s a white-faced Sara who calmly tells him that she needs to go home, no everything’s fine but she’s not in the mood for pizza and a movie today.

She’s so fucked.

 ~ ~ ~

“Sara, long time no see!”

“Heya, Erik.” She smiles as she lets herself in the front gate. “How’s it hanging?”

“Well, the kids’ tutor just went home, and Bianca’s out for the afternoon- say hello, Lucia.”

“Hi.” The five year old peers around her father’s leg before running off.

“They get so big so fast!” Sara exclaims. “They weren’t no bigger than grasshoppers when I saw ‘em last.”

“Kids are like that, huh?” The man laughs. “So, what brings you out here?”

“Um.” Her cheerful expression falls, a more worried one replacing it. “It’s… um… I gotta talk to ya about somethin’.”

“Sure, sure. We’re friends, right? What’s the matter? Issues with the plants? Or that Union-”

“No.” She shakes her head. “Luckily not that today. I just um… remember how ya told me that they’re… actually can we do this inside?”

“Sure?” He looks puzzled. “That serious, huh?”

“I might have done something real dumb.” She sits herself at the table and rests her head in her hands. “Goddess’ sake, I fucked up.”

“Daddy, what’s ‘fucked up?’” She nearly jumps out of her skin at the young voice coming from underneath the table.

“Mason!” Erik scolds, bending down. “Sorry to take your fort, buddy, but can you go play with Lucia now?” He coughs. “Also, don’t repeat that word, especially not around your mother.”

“Aww. Okay, bye.” He gets up and takes off, and Erik shakes his head with a laugh.

“Kids, huh? Okay so what’s the matter?”

“Remember a long time ago when you um… explained some things for me?” Her face is hot, and she’s reluctant to lift her eyes to look at him. “Ya know… about how those two were…. made?”

“Yes but I don’t follow. Please don’t tell me you want a recap. That was awful enough the first time.”

“No!” Sara shakes her head. “Absolutely not! You were just saying that… you and Bianca had to get married when they were… after they got made, right?”

“Uh huh…” His eyes widen. “Wait, are you saying-”

“Yep.” She looks at him through her fingers. “Ain’t that somethin’?”

“Congratulations!” He jumps up from his seat. “That’s great news, Sara! When is the wedding? If you need a flower girl and a ring bearer-”

“There ain't gonna be a wedding.”

“Huh?” Erik stops his excited movements. “What are you talking about?”

“There can’t be a wedding ‘cause I don’t know who the pa is.” She exhales shakily. “I wasn’t… expecting this.”

“You don’t know who the- oh, Sara.” Erik shakes his head. “Please, spare me the details- but how?!"

“I will. And I... would have to tell ya the details to answer that question. But Goddess, Erik, what am I supposed ta do?” She clenches her fists. “A kid needs two parents, right? There ain’t no way I’m doing this alone- not cause I can’t but cause it ain’t fair to the brat. Not to mention my partner-”

“Sanders, was it?”

“It might be his… or it might be Parker’s or Bennet’s. No matter what it's gonna disrupt our household and I'm scared.”

Erik is silent for a long while, his brow furrowed in deep thought. After a time, he reaches out, taking her hand in his.

“Don’t worry about them. Just worry about yourself and the kid and everything will be okay.” He smiles at her warmly. “I know you’ll make the right decision.”

“Erik…” She finds herself tearing up, and she’s grateful when he passes her a tissue. “T-thank you.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t mention the tears. Bianca was just the same.” He chuckles. “Seriously though, Sara. Three guys? You’re at least planning to tell them, right?”

“… Yeah.” She sniffles. “I guess I gotta, right? Boy, but won’t it break them…”

“Well… if they love you, then they’ll do what’s right, won’t they?”

“Yer such a damn optimist. Ya wouldn't be saying that if you'd met my dorks.” She giggles. “Thanks, Erik.”

“What are friends for?”

~ ~ ~

It’s a week later when she invites them all to supper, a meal she’s barely able to get through cooking without tossing her cookies. As they tuck into the meal, she surreptitiously glances around at the three faces surrounding her. Crybaby Parker, Overconfident Bennet, and of course… Sanders.

Each one of them is so, so special to her. In their own ways, they each completed her. They are her family, for better or for worse. She needs them.

What will she do if she has to lose one of them for good?

“Guys. I got an announcement.” She straightens up, her nails digging into her palms. They're all looking at her eagerly, hanging on her every word.

Poor suckers.

“I’m pregnant.”

Notes:

Idk I randomly thought of this this morning and decided to slap it together. Sorry.

This goes after Four and before For Better or For Worse.

Yep, cue Sanders fainting and hitting his head on the floor. And three idiots running helter-skelter for blue feathers.

Erik is Sara's friend. That was my main inspiration for this.

Also Sara's that bad 'aunt' who teaches the kids bad words when she comes over. I'd like to think one of the twins starts to mimic her accent and drives Erik and Bianca crazy.