new routine (michael)

[michael]

"Did you not eat? Did you not eat?"

[/color], he asked to the small child as she continued to fuss, laughing faintly as he looked over at Wren. He half expected her to be grabbing a bottle or something for the two, but when she didn't, his mind then went to the thought that she'd have something to cover her. But, that was quickly thrown out of the window as well as she simply pulled her shirt up, and brought Lucy to her breast. ...Well, that...was interesting. Michael had never seen any part of a woman bare before. It was something that sort of...well, just freaked him out in a way. Of course, it would be the same reaction an decent man would have if their friend stood in front of him naked. He was no way attracted by what women held, though obviously held nothing against them. Clearing his throat faintly, he handed Poppy to her before glancing away.

Being the somewhat proper and at least well-mannered man that he was, he didn't want to stare or invade on her privacy. His friend obviously didn't have a problem with it at all, but he did. It was simply not something he wanted to look at or even see in he first place. With a light blush burning on his cheeks, he lightly tapped a bit nervously on his knee as his eyes continued to dart from one place to another, completely avoiding Wren. He held nothing against her breastfeeding them, though. It was her house and all, and he knew it was a natural and even important thing for both mother and child, but that didn't mean he had to be completely comfortable with it...[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[wren]

Wren lightly stroked the little bit of hair that Lucy had, it was turning out to be golden blonde like hers, whilst she waited for Michael to bring over Poppy. When he did she watched him instantly clam up, well, that had certainly not been what she had expected from him. Normally so bubbly and carefree, but to be taken aback by something as simple as her feeding her baby... When strangers acted that way, Wren simply ignored them, though she couldn't just ignore Michael. Really, though, it was just her breasts, being used for the purpose that nature intended them for, and what with her flower child ways she was all for it.

Wren also got Poppy latched on without a problem, and she began to suck even more eagerly than Lucy was. "Goodness, maybe you'll try actually eating at the next meal," said Wren, chuckling lightly. She then looked over at Michael, who appeared to be far too tense and trying much too hard to not look at her. Was he really that uncomfortable? "Are you all right?" asked Wren, lightly resting her hands on her daughters' backs as they nursed greedily.

[michael]

For that moment and that moment only, Michael made a very brief glance at the woman that sat beside him before chuckling a bit nervously. How was he suppose to explain this without offending her? It wasn't that he was offended or anything about her breastfeeding. No, he knew it was an important part of parenting. He was just uncomfortable with a woman's...parts, so to speak. "I'm uh...fine."

[/color], he said, laying back against the couch with a faint sigh. "I just...um...Not accustomed to womanly parts. How's that?"[/color], he went on, giving her a bit of a goofy but nervous smile. Though, as he thought a bit more about it, it was just how he was raised in general. His parents had taught him not to stare and that seeing another person's special body parts was not an okay thing. His parents were kind of old fashioned that way.

But, as he sat that, he realized he would just have to learn to get over this. In reality, he figured, perhaps this wasn't exactly that huge of deal as he was making it. Michale cleared his throat again, taking in a breath before looking at Wren, smiling faintly. He had to chill out. For Christ's sake, it couldn't be that much different than the pictures he had seen in his high school science books. He just needed to chill out, relax, and not make such a huge deal out of it.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[wren]

Wren lightly traced patterns on her daughters' backs, her subconscious way of soothing them, maintaining that contact which she so desperately craved. She had known that she was a doting sort of person before, but the moment she had her first baby that trait seemed to have multiplied tenfold. There was something to be said about the bond between mother and baby, particularly when it came to this. Wren considered herself huge on breastfeeding, having done it with both Ruby and Daniel before the babies came along. It really was best for their immune systems and brain development, no bottle could deliver what her body made naturally.

That and there seemed to be a major connection that was formed, the strongest bond she had ever experienced. It was magical in a way. Wren chuckled lightly at her friend's words, it was somewhat amusing to see him so bashful when she had thought he honestly wouldn't care. She did know that his parents were on the conservative side, but she hadn't thought that it would be to that extent. "They've got to eat," Wren said simply, refraining from shrugging and therefore disturbing her babies, "it's what they're made for, anyway." She smiled, showing just how indifferent she was about the whole thing.

[michael]

Michael gave another one of his nervous chuckles as he nodded his head at her words. Yes, yes. He knew the twins had to eat and he knew perfectly well that breasts were meant to be used for such purposes. And, it wasn't the idea that she was doing this in front of him. He was sure that if he was more accustomed to seeing a woman's body parts he would be much more comfortable with this. He just had to get himself out of the mindset that his parents had practically engraved into both his mentality and sense of morality. Sighing faintly as he rested his head on the back of the couch, the man tapped his fingers against the fabric before speaking once more. "Just gotta get use to it I guess. I mean, when I was a kid, my mom would scold me for even mentioning anything related to any person's, erm...specific organs."

[/color], he explained chuckling faintly.

"Actually, the only way I ever learned about sex or anything like that were from my friends."[/color], he said with a light laugh. "I remember coming home that day and asking my mum why men have penises and women have vaginas and...oh, man. Her expression...I can't even describe it."[/color], he said with a faint grin. He remembered that day so clearly. It had been a horribly memory when he was younger, but now he couldn't help but laugh at it now having been so many years later. "I got a number of spankings from saying both penis and vagina that day. She was so upset. She acted more like I had just cussed her out."[/color], he said, finally beginning to relax. Michael dwelt on the memory for a bit longer, his amusement reflecting in his eyes. "Yeah. Neither of my parents were very keen on that topic."[/color][/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[wren]

Wren continued to feed her daughters listening as Michael spoke about, what was in her mind, a downright oppressive upbringing. Granted, there were some topics that weren't appropriate to discuss with children, but that didn't meant that they should be dealt scoldings and something as degrading as spanking. They might be children, but they were still human beings, capable of handling diluted logic. Wren liked to be able to give reasons, as to why it wasn't okay to talk about those things, rather than getting all draconian about it. Lucy pulled away, finished, and Wren adjusted her shirt to make sure that Michael was comfortable.

"A bit of a shame," said Wren, "them being all uptight like that, honestly, children are like that. You'd think they'd never encountered any before." She kept it light-hearted however, she didn't want to attack Michael's parents, even if she didn't exactly agree with those particular methods. "Would you take her?" Wren asked, holding out Lucy to Michael. She had to admit, this was much easier with another adult around, sometimes she needed both her hands for one baby, now was one of those times.

[michael]

In response to the woman's words, Michael simply shrugged his shoulders in a very nonchalantly manner. He didn't really have much of a problem with how his parents had raised him. Yes, there were some things that he would've liked to change about them and their teaching habits, but he had turned out pretty well. He knew what he needed to know and then some. Granted most of the seemingly inappropriate stuff he had knowledge from hadn't been taught to him by his parents, but that mattered little to him. His mother and father had taught him the most important lessons in his mind and that was what mattered. He knew how to behave proper and kindly towards others. He held a great amount of respect to everyone no matter who it was. They had, for the most part, had made him the loving man he was that day.

Turning to Wren as she made her request, the man smiled widely and nodded his head, not even wasting a moment with taking the child into his arms. "All done, then, now are we?"

[/color], he cooed to the little girl as he held her against his chest. As a sort of instant thought, he gently began patting her on the back like his mother had taught him when he fed his own baby brother. It was something he was used to, though it had been awhile since he had done such a thing. He remembered briefly that he had stopped burping his brother for his mother at one point, but couldn't clearly remember why that was. It eventually hit him, though...Literally. As he continued to pat Lucy back, he chuckled faintly as he heard the faint burp come from her, but that was before it all went down hill. She had apparently eaten a bit too much and it was clear as the small child faintly vomited the excess milk onto the front of his chest. Michael instant froze, his eyes wide and glazed over. Now he remembered why he never burped his baby brother...[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[wren]

Wren carefully adjusted Poppy once Michael had taken Lucy from her, the difference between nursing one baby and two simultaneously was well-noted. Though what with how frequently they needed to eat she'd always have a baby on her breast if she nursed them separately. And Wren simply did not have the time for that, there were still two older children that needed to be cared for, their assortment of pets to tend to, on top of all the laundry, cooking, and housework, as well as her gardening and somehow finding the time to read a book here and there... She really was a busy woman, though now that she had settled into her new routine it was difficult to remember what it had been like before the twins.

And really, motherhood was what Wren had been born to do, she hadn't ever been able to imagine herself with a formal career, from a very young age she had wanted to be a Mummy. She might not have imagined herself with four kids at twenty-three, but she really was more than content with her life. She looked over as Michael burped Lucy, and was consequently spewed with spit-up. He looked absolutely horrified. Wren tried to hold back her laughter, though the task proved too difficult, and she soon found herself unable to stop. "Oh, I'm- sorry..." said Wren through her laughter, "just the look on your face..."

[michael]

Michael could hardly hear Wren's laughter as he just sat there, his body as tense as a wooden plank. To say this was his worst nightmare would be pretty accurate. He hated -- feared, even -- the smell of vomit, the look, everything! And, now, it was sitting there on him. He could feel the disgusting slime of it through his shirt as it dampened his skin beneath that spot. His breathing actually became shaky and uneven. He continued to stare blankly out in front of him, his throat constricted faintly as he swallowed hard, both from his sense of fear and his attempt to keep himself from vomiting as well. The retched smell was seeping into his nose and it was plain horrid. Holding Lucy still as she faintly squirmed in his arms, he really couldn't move. Michael knew that if he even tried to move, he'd go into a state of panic. Knowing that, he simply didn't move. If he went into such a state, he knew he'd become a bit frantic and possibly hurt Lucy in the process of his spazz out.

His arms trembled faintly as he tried to remain as calm as he possibly could. "...T-Take her. Now."

[/color], he said, his voice trembling, not even looking at Wren. She had to take the child from him before he simply lost it. He knew he couldn't hold his composure for much longer, especially as he felt a chunk of something slide down his chest. Oh, God...He needed to get up now before he both started thrashing around and, maybe, even vomiting himself.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[wren]

Wren's laughter slowed considerably when the look on Michael's face turned from horror to something well beyond that, it suddenly wasn't funny anymore. Poppy chose that moment to pull away and Wren sat her up. The baby belched richly for a child of her size without Wren having to do anything, and then all of a sudden, Michael practically demanded that he take back Lucy. He never talked like that... She was quick to lay Poppy on the floor and take her other daughter from Michael, tucking the baby into the crook of her arm, and looking at her friend in a more concerned manner, opposed to the amusement she had had a moment ago.

Lightly cuddling her daughter who looked about ready to finally go back to sleep, she didn't tear her gaze away from Michael. "Are you... Are you okay?" asked Wren, knitting her eyebrows and frowning a bit in her concern, she had never seen anyone act like that before. It was just a little spit-up, sure, it might be a little gross, but he was acting as if he had been pushed into a vat of it rather than just gotten a little down his shirt.

[michael]

He didn't need to look at Wren to know that she was finally taking him serious. She honestly wished she had earlier instead of laughing, but he was sure that he would've done the same if put into the same situation. At that point, his control was slipping, he could feel it. He didn't want to just toss the baby girl aside, though. He needed to remain...calm. All that went out the window in an instant, though once Wren took Lucy from him. For a moment, he seemed to just stay there, not even trembling any more. But, that didn't last for too long. As he heard his friend's voice, though, he was instantly snapped back into reality. Jerking up onto his feet, Michael practically tore off his shirt, not caring at that point if his actions seemed unreasonable or if he was over-reacting. The feeling of it was beyond horrible.

He was quickly muttering words, most of them incoherent as he threw the shirt down. Yes, he really needed to work on his fear, but that could be for another day. Right now, all that was running through his mind was that he needed to get this off of him. Now. Breathing harshly, he closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down, but it wasn't working at all. He could still smell the vomit and that was all it took. Moving quickly, he rushed over to the kitchen, not knowing where on earth her bathroom was. Practically falling over into the sink, Michael gagged a few times before vomiting a bit himself. After a moment when he was able to compose himself, he finally spoke. "Oh, God, Wren...I'm so sorry."

[/color], he said, his voice rough from his gagging.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[wren]

Wren was beyond concerned now, it didn't seem right, what was happening, more so when Michael didn't even answer her question, but instead once she had taken Lucy off his hands immediately stood and yanked off his shirt, tossing the offending garment aside before making a beeline to the kitchen. She could only stay in her spot on the couch, effectively pinned there by having an infant in her arms, and another beside her feet, so for the time being she was powerless. Wren frowned when she heard Michael retching over the sink, the poor thing, she had spent a lot of time over that sink when she was pregnant...

The morning sickness had lessened considerably as her last pregnancy had progressed, but she could still puke at the drop of a hat right up until the last day. If something smelled or tasted off... Carefully, Wren got off the couch and tucked Lucy into the double swing Michael had given her, and was quick to put Poppy on the other side before picking up her wand to clean Michael's discarded shirt. With the twins now dozing in the softly swaying swing, Wren went to join her friend in the kitchen. "Oh it's all right," said Wren, lightly putting her hand on his shoulder, "I should be sorry... I didn't know."

[michael]

Running the water from the sink, rinsing off whatever he had left over in the sink, he lightly shook his head. "And, that is why you don't need to be sorry."

[/color], he said softly before he began rinsing his mouth out. He wasn't going to hold it against his friend. She really didn't know and it wasn't her fault. He probably would have thought the same if he had been put in something of a similar situation. After a few rinses, he stayed over the sink, splashing water onto his face before finally standing up straightly. Sighing a bit, he gave Wren a faint smile as he glanced at her. "I promise, it's fine."[/color], he reassured her as he straightened up a bit more. "You'd think I'd get over all of that by now, though."[/color], he said as he gave a bit of a nervous chuckle, glancing back into the living room.

Michael's smile widened a bit as he saw the two girls in the swing that he had given Wren. It was gratifying to see that she was able to find a lot of use for it. Or, at least he assumed that it had been a lot of help. "Gonna just assume that the swings come in handy a lot, yeah?"[/color], he asked, glancing at his friend.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[wren]

Wren smiled weakly, she felt terrible, though she assumed she'd just have to get over it, Michael wasn't going to allow her to be at fault anyway. She lightly rubbed his back with one hand, holding his magically cleaned shirt and her wand in the other, whilst he rinsed his mouth. The poor thing, if she had known she might have given him fair warning. The twins were still small enough where they spit-up a few times a day, and Lucy was a bit more prone to it than Poppy. There might not be much discernible difference between them yet, though Lucy did seem to be a bit more delicate than her twin.

"Well, you've never had kids so I would expect you to be," said Wren. Though Michael, being himself, was quick to bounce to the next topic, his resiliency was admirable. "Oh yes, they really do love it," said Wren, smiling a bit before holding out Michael's shirt to him, "I cleaned it off for you."

[michael]

As he watched the twins rest happily in their swing as it automatically swung them at the perfect speed, Michael smiled brightly. He was glad to know that the two baby girls enjoyed it so much. He had hoped they would and he knew it was a great help for Wren too. As she spoke once more, he turned to face her, glancing at his shirt briefly before smirking faintly. "Pfft, who needs a shirt when I've got a bod as awesome as this?"

[/color], he said as he playfully flexed his arms, laughing. He wasn't exactly what you would call buff, but he was definitely fit. His arms were strong and some of the muscles were defined beneath his skin. His chest held some hair, but it was clear that he was fit as you could see the faint lines of his abdominal muscles. Making a few more funny, almost mocking poses and flexes, the man finally stopped, laughing as he looked back at his friend.

"See? Who needs a shirt here?"[/color], he asked with a chuckle, though he still took his shirt from his friend before slinging it over his shoulder. He didn't really want to wear it, though. Magically cleaned or not, he had to personally see to it that he himself cleaned it. It was a sort of OCD thing with him. But, he wasn't going to bother Wren with all that. He would just do his hand washing when he got back home. Stepping back into the living room, he chuckled faintly as he looked down at the twins, the two already beginning to doze off.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]