Chapter 1.09: Serene and Isobel

Sighing, she sat on the sofa as she stared out into space. They had only just gotten back home with their newborn baby, and she had to admit she was absolutely drained. Juniper had been in labor for fifteen hours. Fifteen fucking horrible hours of trying to push out a little human. Whoever said child birth was beautiful was and still is a complete idiot. There was nothing beautiful about pushing a little crying human out of you, she could only imagine what it did to her down there. Hell, she didn't even think Isobel took that long to come out of her. No, she had needed a C-Section for Isobel. Now it was coming back to her, her first born was in a breached position and it had been far too dangerous to try a natural birth. 

Taking another deep breath, she got up and headed towards the stairs. Despite the fifteen hours of labor, she still had to take care of the baby. "Isobel, want to come meet your sister?" Juniper asked. 

"I don't know, what if she doesn't like me?" Isobel asked. Juniper had to smile. Isobel was growing into a beautiful and talented artist, her drawings covered her walls and they were pretty damn good for a seven year old. 

"She is going to love you, because that is what little sisters do," Juniper said. It was not entirely a lie; she was sure there were some little sisters who loved their big sisters. She had been an only child when she was growing up, and couldn't personally vouch for it but Toby had come from a somewhat large family. He was constantly telling Isobel of all the fun the two were gonna have together. 

"Ok," Isobel said. Smiling, Juniper walked with her daughter upstairs into their room.

 Juniper watched from the doorway as Toby held their little girl; she had to smile at the adorable little bundle of joy, but for some reason this baby felt like a stranger to her. Juniper remembered when Toby first started talking about having a second child, a new baby. The idea excited her, and yet it horrified her.

"Want to hold our daughter?" Toby asked her, he had tears in his eyes. Tears of joy, they made her. The innocent little baby in his arms was their own creation, their own blood, and their own love. Juniper walked over to them and glanced over her shoulder at Isobel, who just stood there looking unsure of what to do. "Come on over here, and meet your sister!" Toby said.

 She watched later that night as Isobel talked to the baby, and frowned at what she said. "So, mama told me that little sisters are suppose to love their big sister. Oh, I'm the big sister if you didn't already know that. I mean, you're just a stupid baby. What do you know? But.... I don't know if I want to love you. I don't know if I like you. I don't even know you! You just came out of my mama's tummy, and it's very scary. And gross! You're a stupid, gross little baby! How could you do this? Why did you have to come and mess everything up for me?" Isobel asked.