Up With The Dawn

[lizzy]

Her mother's groaning and the sound of the flushing toilet were what woke Elizabeth early that morning. Lizzy's eyes blinked open and from her cot she could see Alexia's silhouette in the doorway of the bathroom. In the dim morning light, Liz could see Alexia even after she had snuffed the candle. "Are you alright, Mama?" the twelve year old called as she sat up on the cot. She wasn't concerned with waking the other two in the room - her father and Celia had always been much heavier sleepers than the other three members of their family until.

"I'm fine, kleines Mädchen," Alexia replied, smiling warmly at her eldest daughter. "Just a little morning sickness, that's all."

Sitting up a bit more, Lizzy returned her mother's smile, admiring how beautiful she was, even while ill, pregnant, and standing in the dull light of morning. She tucked her blanket up around her shoulders as she slid into an upright position against the wall her cot sat against, but felt a chill run through her anyway. As mothers tend to do, Alexia noticed the shivering and sat beside Liz on her cot.

"Are you alright, Liebling?" the woman inquired, pulling Elizabeth into a hug against her figure. "You look cold."

"I'm fine, Mama. Really, I am. It's just a little chilly this morning, that's all," the girl replied, hugging her mother back. It wasn't often that she received so much direct attention, and she was going to enjoy this while it lasted.

[kleines Mädchen = little one, Liebling = darling...both are German.]

[Oh, and in case this is necessary - CLOSED. It's restricted to posts made by me.]

[lizzy]

"Mama?" Liz continued, still clinging to her mother. "When is the baby going to come?"

"Not for a while, Liebling. The healers are predicting a delivery in late June." Alexia squeezed Elizabeth to her one last time before pulling out of the hug. For a reason not yet explained, the woman smiled lightly and place her right hand on her belly.

"What is it, Mama?" Lizzy asked, sliding onto her knees and crawling toward where her mother now sat. "Is it the baby?"

"Yes; Baby kicked. And there's another. Do you want to feel?" Alexia replied, still smiling.

Elizabeth got lost in the smile for a moment, marveling at the simple beauty her pregnant mother radiated. Then, blinking, she came back to reality and realized what her mother had said. Nodding excitedly, Liz lifted her hand to reach for her mother, but then she hesitated. "May I?" she asked, looking up to her mother's eyes.

"Of course, Liebling. Here," Alexia reached for Lizzy's hand and placed it on her stomach. "Right here. Can you feel Baby there?"

Elizabeth responded with another excited nod. "I can feel it! Baby's really in there!"

[lizzy]

"Yes, Liebling. That is Baby."

"Oh, Mama. I'm so excited now!" Removing her hand from her mother's stomach, Elizabeth clapped her hands together gleefully at the prospect of having a new little brother or sister in just six short months.

"Are you?" Alexia inquired, her smile softer but still clearly present. "I wasn't sure how well Celia and yourself were taking to Baby."

"Really, Mama? Oh, I'm greatly looking forward to Baby's arrival!"

"And Celia, Liebling?" Alexia's gaze held the question in her eyes.

"Well," Lizzy began, hesitating slightly, fearing that her mother would be saddened by the truth. "I don't think Celia likes Baby too much."

"So it is as I feared. Oh dear. I suppose we shall have to help her adjust come summer, then. She won't be the youngest anymore when Baby arrives." Alexia's smile had been replaced by an expression of concern as the German woman contemplated the complicated situation.

"I think that is why she is scared," Liz stated.

"I will still love you though, Liebling. You know that, yes?" Alexia slowly pulled her eldest daughter into another comforting hug.

"Of course, Mama. I love you, too," Lizzy answered, relishing this second hug by grasping her mother tightly around the middle.