Chapter 9

Left alone, Pyrrha sat on the bed for a while longer. When she finally did get up she walked over to the full-body mirror off to the side of the room. She looked herself up and down. A trainwreck. Her hair was chaotic, her face stained with tears, her attire entirely unacceptable for guests to see. She had managed to calm down a little, and was starting to return to her senses. She slipped on some simple but presentable clothes and combed her hair. Her tear stained face would have to wait until she had access to a sink, but it was a start. She returned to the mirror. Despite the clear evidence of her crying and the look of desperation still etched on her face, her appearance remained mostly unchanged. And yet so much had changed.

Pyrrha exited the bedroom and made her way to the lounge. She had heard the jumbled voices of overlapping conversations, but when she arrived they stopped. All eyes turned to her as she scanned the assembled crowd: Yang leaning against the couch, Winter seated in a chair, Blake and Velvet on the loveseat, Raven and Glynda standing next to one another, Nora and Sun on the couch. They all looked relieved, perhaps because they saw her change in attire to be a sign of improvement. Upon seeing her, Nora and Sun slid away from one another to make room for Pyrrha to sit between them, but she had another idea.

Pyrrha walked up to Sun, bending down to wrap him in an embrace. "I'm sorry I hit you." She apologized. "I'm sorry I yelled. This isn't your fault, and you certainly didn't deserve that."

"I'm sorry too." Sun said, returning the hug. "I really got us into a mess Pyr."

Pyrrha took a deep breath and sat between Sun and Nora. "It's tough for all of us." She sighed. "I should be better than this, but I have my moments, like everyone does. It's rare that something so big happens so suddenly, and I was overwhelmed. I apologize for the panic, and I am truly grateful for the support you all have given me."

"We're a family Pyrrha." Glynda declared. "It's our job to support one another. You're going to get through this, and we'll all be there to help."

"Thank you." Pyrrha smiled. "Now I just think I need some time to properly digest the situation, consider my options, and make the right decisions." She paused. "Glynda, can you cover my appointments, just until I'm ready? I don't think I'll be much help to anyone like this."

"Of course." Glynda replied. "Take as much time off as you need."

"I think...I think I'll be alright now." Pyrrha declared. "I've taken more than enough of your time. You can all get back to your lives now."

"Are you kidding?" Yang laughed. "We're not going anywhere."

"Slumber party?" Blake suggested.

"I feel severely outnumbered." Sun complained.

Nora reached around Pyrrha to slap Sun on the back. "You love it."

Raven had never been big on video games. The only reason she even had a console was because she thought playing with Yang would be a good way to bond. That did not quite work out as Yang was usually frustrated with Raven's general lack of skill, or trash talked Raven mercilessly. In the end the device sat mostly dormant, gathering dust below the television. But today Raven sat on the couch, controller in hand, playing a game all by herself. The blocky crafting game had been a recommendation from Winter, and Raven was having an alright time as she tried to work out all the mechanics.

If the game helped Winter unwind or get her mind off painful topics, it could work for Raven. So far her efforts had been futile. Just the knowledge that she was playing to try to forget was enough to bring the situation to the forefront of her mind. Pyrrha was going through hell, a hell Raven knew all too well, and having to see it happen again was painful to say the least. Raven deeply cared for Pyrrha, in addition to having great respect for her, and the idea that she might be following in Raven's footsteps filled her with dread.

Raven had once thought the feelings dead and buried. She certainly tried her best to erase them. Running away did not work, drinking did not work, her failed marriages did not work, sleeping around did not work. In the end it had been her reconciliation with Yang that had put most of the painful thoughts to rest, and Glynda's love had taken care of the rest. Now those memories were back with a vengeance. The game was not working. Raven paused the game and put the controller on the coffee table with a sigh.

A knock on the door made Raven jump. She laughed at her own skittishness and got up. Glynda was not scheduled to get home for a few hours yet, and she had a key besides, so Raven figured it was one of two options. Either it was a package being delivered or the demons of Raven's past come to devour her soul. Raven opened the door to find Pyrrha standing there with two bags in one hand and a tray with two coffee cups in the other. "Demons it is…" Raven grumbled under her breath. "Hey Pyrrha."

"Hello Raven, is this a bad time?" Pyrrha asked.

Raven laughed and stepped forward, taking the coffee from Pyrrha and wrapping her free arm around her. "It's never a bad time for you Pyr." She declared. "Come on in."

Pyrrha followed Raven in and the pair sat on the couch. Pyrrha opened the bags to reveal that one was filled with cinnamon donuts and the other glazed. She looked up at the television. "Oh, you play too?" She asked.

"Eh...not really." Raven shrugged. "Win said it helped her wind down...when Yang isn't distracting her by building dicks that is."

"So that's where Nora gets it!" Pyrrha shouted.

"Oh God, her too?" Raven snickered.

"She lives in one!" Pyrrha exclaimed. "It glows in the dark!"

"They make condoms like that." Raven laughed.

"I know, we bought some…" Pyrrha sighed. "We bought a lot of them..."

As Pyrrha trailed off, Raven took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. Pyrrha smiled, leaning against Raven. "How are you holdin' up kiddo?" Raven asked.

"Much better than I was." Pyrrha replied. "Just have a lot to think about. Thank you again Raven, I know this is a difficult situation for you as well, and I appreciate your willingness to help. I wouldn't have blamed you for distancing yourself."

"I...I wanted to, mostly." Raven admitted. "Glynda basically dragged me to your house the other night. I knew what I might be walking into. I'm just glad you handled it better than I did."

"Yes, I can't see myself knocking out Sun and trashing half the house, let alone topping it." Pyrrha laughed. "My upper body strength sucks."

"Strength doesn't really matter." Raven noted. "Learn how to throw a punch and a stick figure can knock someone out. I'll teach you sometime."

"I'd appreciate it." Pyrrha smiled. "Can I ask you a few things? They're things we haven't talked about before, and not really personal…"

"You can ask me anything Pyrrha." Raven declared.

"I know." Pyrrha nodded. "I just want to know what to expect...while expecting?"

"Oh boy." Raven laughed. "Well, enjoy those donuts, because there's a chance you won't be able to stomach them anymore."

"Really?" Pyrrha asked. "Why?"

"No idea." Raven shrugged. "For some reason random smells start to repulse you. Like for me, I love Mistralian, did back then too, but shortly after I fell pregnant, just a whiff would have me heaving...ugh."

"I really hope I can still stand pancakes." Pyrrha sighed.

"They your favorite?" Raven asked.

"Nora's." Pyrrha replied. "She'll be devastated if I can't cook them anymore."

"Fingers crossed." Raven said. "Then there's morning sickness. Apparently not everyone suffers from it, but I call bullshit on that. Never met a mother who didn't. That sucks, and your boobs will get bigger and more sensitive, and ache for no reason. Ankles too. And that's all without mentioning your belly, which varies from person to person. Some women get huge, some women get a tiny little bump. I was in a lucky, manageable middle, but it still wreaked havoc on my back."

"Oh...well…" Pyrrha groaned.

"One upside though." Raven noted.

"Hmm?" Pyrrha asked.

"Breast milk." Raven smirked.

"Oh...oh!" Pyrrha gasped.

"Oh yea, we had some fun times with that…" Raven reminisced. "Ah...good times."

They were silent for a while as they ate their donuts and drank their coffee. "I know which way I'm leaning." Pyrrha finally spoke up. "I just need some more time to set it in stone."

"Take your time Pyrrha." Raven advised. "You've got about three or so months I think."

"Yeah...thank you Raven." Pyrrha said. "I needed this."

"I'm a mom, a shitty one in recovery, but still a mom." Raven laughed. "I gotta' try."

"You're doing well." Pyrrha encouraged. "You've come so far. It's hard to believe how far the tables have turned, huh?"

"This isn't exactly why I would have envisioned turning said tables." Raven shook her head.

"Life makes fools of us all it seems." Pyrrha laughed.

"Life's a cunt." Raven joked.

Pyrrha smiled and nodded. "Preach."

Pyrrha found herself laying down to think with increasing frequency. The bed, the couch, the gazebo, anywhere peaceful and comforting. Sometimes Nora would join her, but more often than not she was alone. She would lie there and absentmindedly put a hand on her stomach, sometimes catching herself stroking it as she let her mind wander, going over her thoughts, her feelings, her wants and desires. A few weeks had passed since the positive test, a little less since her talk with Raven. She had spent most of the time in relative seclusion - apart from Sun and Nora, who had been surprisingly scarce despite spending every day near her.

Nora did not attempt to initiate sex, and limited her usual intimacy to gentle hugs and quick kisses that deepened only if Pyrrha pushed. Sun was even more hesitant. He clearly still felt guilty, and Pyrrha made sure to hold him longer than usual, whoever initiated the embrace. Pyrrha was grateful for them giving her the space she needed. Normally she was okay with Nora setting the pace, like riding a rollercoaster with varying speed. It kept things fresh and exciting, but now Pyrrha needed things to slow down for a while. She ensured they did not neglect their own needs however. Nora's libido was strong and their recent sex life had been healthy to say the least. Pyrrha made it clear that just because she was abstaining for the time being, they should not feel obligated to join her. Though hesitant to agree, Sun and Nora were less antsy afterward, and more clingy in bed, which was fine with Pyrrha. She had always felt hugs were underrated.

Pyrrha considered the paths ahead of her. One path was painful from the get-go. Abortion. It was a word that caused her to flinch just thinking about it. She had never given much thought to the subject in the past. She did not oppose the idea. Accidental pregnancies happened often, and the world did not need unwanted children. Children did not deserve to be unwanted, something Pyrrha knew better than most.

Nora tried not to show it, but the idea clearly repulsed her. She loved children, she loved life, she loved Sun and she loved Pyrrha. This child was part of both Sun and Pyrrha, so Nora loved them unconditionally, even barely formed in the womb. Nora would never admit this of course. She would not try to influence Pyrrha one way or the other. It was in Nora's nature not to confront Pyrrha with something serious like this, even if she had the right to, as if Pyrrha would fade away at the first sign of resistance. It was an irrational fear born of loss, a fear that she might never truly overcome. Nora would accept Pyrrha's decision either way, even if she had to swallow every negative feeling and thought for the rest of her life. Nora was utterly, unquestionably devoted to Pyrrha, and her choice would not change that.

Sun was less secure in his feeling. He took full blame for the situation, no matter how much Nora and Pyrrha assured him the mistake was mutual. His guilt, combined with the fear he had originally waved away, fear of being incapable, inadequate and unfit, was only magnified by the love he felt for both women and the possibility of a second child. Sun was not so emotionally attached to the idea of a second child as Nora, and his dilemma stemmed from how his perceived mistake would change their relationship. He loved Nora, his best friend for years, turned lover. He loved Pyrrha, the woman who trusted him to care for Nora when she could not, who had opened her heart...among other things...to him, despite the risks involved. In his mind he had broken the trust they had built, and was absolutely terrified that his mistake would destroy everything they had. So long as Pyrrha was happy, so long as Nora was happy, so long as their relationship remained strong, Sun would accept whatever choice Pyrrha made.

Pyrrha knew the obvious path to take. The other one. The scary one. The one that could be amazing, but just as easily be a disaster. Pyrrha knew that sadness would result from aborting, but she did not know if it would result from keeping the child. Sun would make a good father, she had faith in that. Nora would make a great mother, that was without question. But would Pyrrha make a good mother? Like it or not she was matriarch of the family. Nora was a great woman, the love of her life, but she was incapable of functioning without relying on others for help. Sun was a good man, but lacked the confidence and capability to take the reins. No, this family was Pyrrha's, and the weight of that responsibility was nearly crushing.

Pyrrha was used to being in a position of power. A therapist's job was to help people, to analyze and break them down to the roots of their issues, to strip away all that they were until only the worst aspects of them remained, then chip away piece by painful piece, until they could safely put themselves back together, leaving them healthier, whole. She knew how to do that. She was confident in her abilities. She had seen first hand, in Raven and Nora, in Garland, Holly, Chrys, Steel, Oliver and many others she had seen come and go. But all of those people, they were adults, grown, intelligent, functioning human beings. They knew her and recognized her as a source of help healing and knowledge. Would it work with a child?

A child knew nothing. A child was irrational, unintelligent and sociopathic. Pyrrha did not know how to handle the idea of helping a human, a child, that could not heed her advice, that might hate her, reject her, disrespect her utterly and leave her despondent. A child she might mistreat, force unwanted ideals upon, misunderstand and mishandle. A child she might fail to raise properly. She could be the reason that child ended up in therapy, the problem rather than the solution. Like her parents.

But Pyrrha had made a promise to herself, years ago, to stop allowing her parents'...her birth parents'...mistakes to hold her back. Glynda, a greater mother than she had ever hoped for, had helped her so much since they had met. Because of Glynda, the scars of her childhood no longer held her back. Step by step she moved forward, inch by inch the scars faded, she found purpose, she found love, and now...now she would find life.

Pyrrha had made her decision. She was having this child. She would not make mistakes that had once caused her so much suffering. Pyrrha was stronger than that, smarter, and - though absolutely terrified of the future - willing to move forward. Yes, it started as an accident, but sometimes the most wonderful things happen by accident. What if Pyrrha had not met Glynda? It had been pure chance, and had altered her entire existence for the better. Perhaps it was time, once again, to let the chips fall where they may. Pyrrha rubbed her stomach, this time on purpose, before getting up and heading to the bedroom. She had to set up a few things first.

Sun and Nora returned home from a dinner with Yang. It had been a usually lively affair, with puns and innuendo flying. Now the pair found the house seemingly empty. They kicked off their shoes and Nora tossed her purse on a table near the door. "Pyrrha, we're home!" Sun announced.

"In the bedroom!" Pyrrha called.

Nora and Sun made their way to the bedroom, stopping in their tracks as the got a glimpse through the open door. Pyrrha sat on the bed in a skimpy robe, a gentle smile on her face. The room itself was lit by candles, with rose petals scattered on the floor and crimson silk sheets lined the bed. "Oh mama." Nora gasped.

"Welcome home." Pyrrha said, her voice still a tad shaky. "I've...I've made my decision." Nora climbed onto the bed, sliding behind Pyrrha and embracing her. Sun knelt in front, combining with Nora to sandwich Pyrrha in a hug. "I love you, both of you. What we have together is beautiful. It makes me happy, and I want to cherish it for the rest of our lives, every part of it, our children included."

"You're really ready?" Nora asked. Pyrrha nodded and turned to kiss her, before turning back to kiss Sun as well.

"We're really gonna' do this?" Sun asked.

"I'm going to have this baby." Pyrrha declared. "We're both having babies. I-it's going to be tough, and I won't always handle everything well, but I know that with both of you at my side, I can do this. We can do this. I-if you're willing."

Sun pulled Pyrrha into another kiss. "Of course I'm willing." He smiled. "I love you."

"One baby was going to be difficult enough, let alone two, and then there's the pregnancy beforehand." Pyrrha warned. "Things are going to get rough. Are you sure you want this?"

"There isn't a doubt in my mind." Sun declared. He smirked. "I just hope I survive the madness. I want to brag about my kids, and my beautiful...wives?"

"Do they even do poly marriages?" Nora asked.

"For that matter, aren't we supposed to get married before having children?" Pyrrha added.

"We're kinda' breaking all the rules here." Sun laughed.

"Eh, fuck 'em!" Nora cheered.

"Speaking of which…" Pyrrha started.

"Celebratory sex?" Nora suggested.

Pyrrha untied her robe, letting it fall away to reveal she was wearing nothing beneath. "We do have some catching up to do…"