POC Chapter 17

Parents of Circumstance
Chapter 17: All in a Family


The Utoniums heard noises coming from Buttercup’s room.

“What’s going on up there?” Professor Utonium asked worriedly?

GG just laughed, “They’re just getting to know each other.”

Margaret frowned, “Sounds more like a struggle to me.”

G chuckled, “A little excitement keeps the relationship interesting.”

Margaret raised an eyebrow, “Is that what you and your husband do?”

G smiled sheepishly, “Amongst other things.”

Everyone looked up when they heard the door open and Buttercup and Will descended the stairs.

Margaret stood up and addressed her daughter. “Sleep well dear?”

Buttercup shrugged, “I guess so, but I’m not used to sleeping in the middle of the day.”

GG smiled, “Don’t worry dear, you will.

“It looks like you got up just in time”, Will’s mother said from the window.

Buttercup blinked, “Why?”

Just then the door bell rang and G went to answer it. Immediately after it opened several people walked in carrying grocery bags and containers and boxes.

Buttercup heard Will sigh, “Here it comes.”

“William”, and trio of girls cried!”

Will cringed and they trapped him in a series of hugs.

“Awwww, William we missed you.”, the oldest one said.

“Yeah”, he wheezed, “I can tell.”

The three girls looked at Buttercup who shifted slightly under their gaze.

The oldest one spoke again. “So you’re the lucky girl who’s captured our baby brothers heart.”

Buttercup’s eyes bulged, “Brother!”

Will looked at her awkwardly. “Uh yeah, Buttercup these are my sisters; Maria, Elise and Auriah. Oldest to youngest, left to right tallest to shortest.”

Buttercup swallowed, “Um, hi.”

The three released Will and walked over to her. “It’ll be so nice having another girl in the family.”

Will rolled his eyes. “As if they’re weren’t enough of you already.”

Buttercup heard a loud “whap” and Will’s body jerked, but he was smiling.

Another girl stepped out from behind Will. Buttercup could see she had fiery orange hair and matching eyes. Her body was fabulously proportioned, the kind that guys drooled over.

“My my Rayza”, Will said cheerfully, “The chrysalis was certainly good to you.”

Rayza smiled and twirled around. “Thank you, though I’m still getting used to all the extra”, she paused and cupped her hands over her firm breasts, “equipment.”

Will’s sisters snickered while Buttercup wore a more sympathetic and understanding expression.

Will turned to Rayza, “They’re just jealous cause you look more motherly then them.”

Rayza smiled, “Thanks.”

Will’s mother decided to stop the direction of the conversation before it turned into an argument. “Alright that’s enough. Why don’t you kids go help your grandfathers bring everything in.”

The five teens sighed and went outside, Rayza being the last one to leave.

Buttercup watched them to. She assumed “Grandfathers was referring to their grandfather and great-grandfather.

Someone grabbed her shoulders and she flinched in response. She turned her head and looked right into Mama’s eyes.

“Why don’t you come and sit down dear.”

Buttercup nodded and allowed her to lead her to the couch.

G sighed, “You needn’t fuss over her so much Laura.”

“I’m simply being considerate.”

“There is such a thing as being to considerate”, a voice said behind her.

Two men Walked inside carrying stacks of large containers. Bother had red hair and eyes and looked about the same age. However Buttercup had learned by now that to be misleading since most of Will’s ascendants looked the same age as him despite being much older.

“By the way Samuel”, he continued, “you’re wanted outside.”

Samuel nodded, “Thanks Dad”, and jogged out the door.

Buttercup sat down on the couch beside Bubbles while Margaret addressed the two men, “Ma I ask what’s in the boxes?”

“Dinner”, they both answered.

The professor and his wife were confused.

GG spoke, “I’ll explain but first introductions. The one on the left is my husband Varic and on the right my son Mark.

“My husband”, G added.

“As for the boxes”, GG continued, “We thought we’d make dinner for everyone here if you don’t mind?”

“Of course not”, Margaret answered cheerfully, “It’s very nice of you.”

G smiled, “Just thought we’d give you a nice formal dinner to bring you back a sense of normality.”

Margaret smiled and nodded, “Thank you.”

Everyone turned as the door opened. Samuel walked in with a baby bag in his right hand and a double baby carrier in his right hand. And it had babies in it.

Right behind him a woman looking no older than the others came in also carrying a double baby carrier.

Rayza ran up to Samuel. “It’s okay daddy, I’ll take the girls.”

Samuel nodded, “Thanks sweetheart.”

The woman still carrying the babies walked over to Buttercup, “Hello I’m Mira, “it’s nice to meet you.”

Buttercup felt slightly awkward, not for the first time today. “Uh, hi.”

A small noise was heard and Mira sighed as she placed the carrier on the floor. She reached down and picked up a baby boy into her arms.


She turned to Buttercup, “Would you mind holding Verrick while I take care of Alanner?”

Buttercup’s eyes widened in surprise at the request. “S-sure.”

Mira gently placed her son into her arms. Buttercup felt awkward as a she held the baby and the position of her arms were being adjusted by Mira  to support the baby’s head and so that he wouldn’t be harmed in case her claws unsheathed by accident. She was feeling very embarrassed with everyone starring at her.

Mira smiled, “You’re a natural.”

Buttercup only swallowed and looked down at Verrick.

He had a small tuft of red hair on the top of his head and matching eyes with little bat like wings protruding out of his back through his blue baby jumper.

She managed a small smile, imagining her own son looking similar. ‘But maybe with brown hair’ she thought.

She heard a small burp and turned her head to see Mira gently patting Allanner on the back.

“There”, she said as she held Allanner out in front of her. “Feel better?”

He let out a happy noise and Mira placed him back in the carrier.

“Well ladies”, GG announced, “We better get started on dinner.”

The women quickly vacated the room including Margaret who insisted on helping. That and it was her kitchen.

Buttercup looked back down at the baby still in her arms.

“You should consider yourself lucky”, Will said as he approached her. “Aunt Mira doesn’t usually let anyone  besides Rayza, Uncle Samuel and our Grandparents handle her pup’s.”

Buttercup looked at him curiously, “Pups?”

Rayza answered, “That’s what Dragon children are called. You know like, chicks or kits or grubs.”

Buttercup winced, “I would never call my ba- pup a grub.”

Rayza grinned, “Nor would anyone else.”


Supper was ready by six o’clock and the pup’s were now sleeping, allowing the parents to enjoy the dinner.

Buttercup sat in the middle of the table with William on her right and Laura on her left. Her sisters including Bunny sat across from her.

A quick blessing was said over the meal and everyone dug in.

Buttercup looked at the different dishes on the table. There was so much food she didn’t know where to start, and some of it looked very strange.

“Don’t know where to start” Will asked her? “Try this.”

Buttercup looked at what he put on her plate; it was large and cylindrical in shape and looked very meaty. She picked it up and squeezed with her fingers, it felt really tough. She brought it up to her mouth and taste tested it with her tongue. It had a sweet juicy taste. Finally she willed up the courage and took a bite. She was immediately amazed at how easily her teeth cut through the tough meat.

“This is good”, she said. “What is it?”

It’s Luna Star”, Will answered. “It’s a starfish that lives in the deep ocean.”

Buttercup looked at him  with a half scared expression on her face. “Do I even want to know what everything else on the table is?”

He smirked, “I’ll tell you after you eat it.”

Sighing she began taking samples of other items on the table to hungry to care about their origin.  

A while later, Buttercup had finished eating and everyone was listing to Laura tell a story from Will’s childhood.

“So I go into the living room and I find fur and blood all over the floor, I look around the corner and I see half the hamster on the floor, the other half in his mouth.”

Laughter was heard all round while William looked to be ignoring it.

“I still can’t believe you would kill then eat something as cute as a hamster”, Elise said crossly.

“I was a year and a half. I didn’t know the difference between pet and prey.”

“Alright you to that’s enough”, Laura said.

Buttercup smiled and lay back in her chair, “I’m so full”, she groaned.

Blossom shook her head, “then why did you eat so much?”

Buttercup shrugged, “cause I was hungry.” She gave a small yawn , “am I tired already? I just woke up a little while ago.”

Laura smiled, “It’ll be like that for the first week or so. Your body just needs to get used to itself. Now off to bed.”

Buttercup sighed heavily, but got up and walked towards the stairs.

“Need me to carry you”, Will asked her?

She smiled, “Thanks but I’d like to keep my independence for as long as I can.” With a simple good night nod she walked up the stairs to bed.

Bubbles looked over at Laura. “Is she going to be okay?”

Laura smiled, “She’ll be fine, she just needs time to adjust.”

Blossom sighed, “I hope it doesn’t take long.”

Laura shrugged, “Even after she does it won’t make a difference  because of her pregnant mood swings.”

Blossom and Bubbles groaned and sank in their chairs.


Upstairs Buttercup had changed into her pyjamas and was beginning to wind down.

She thought about the dinner and the guests. William and his sisters seemed really  close, even for siblings. Laura was already feeling and acting like a mother to her. G and GG felt like the kind of people you could tell your deepest secrets to. Mira was a great role model for motherhood. Samuel and Rayza helping with the caring of the children. Speaking of Rayza, she hadn’t gotten much of a chance to speak with her. She shrugged, there would be another time.

She reached under her pillow and looked at the picture of her unborn son, smiling at it, then carefully put it on her night table.

She lifted up her shirt, kissed her hand then placed it on her bellybutton. “Goodnight my little one.”

Finally she turned off the lights, snuggled into bed and drifted off to sleep.