Daria sat at her desk wading through the pile of work. There was so much to do that at first she was annoyed when the phone rang but, when she heard her sister抯 voice on the other end, she was soon grateful for the interruption.
揌i Quinn.?/p>
揝o what抯 up??/p>
揧ou want me to meet you and Neil at Mom and Dad抯 house this weekend? Why??/p>
揂 secret huh??/p>
揑 guess I can make it there. It will be Saturday before I can make it though.?/p>
揑 have a date.?/p>
揧es. A date.?/p>
揑t抯 our first.?/p>
揕ast week.?/p>
揂t the newsstand.?/p>
揌e seems nice enough.?/p>
揚robably just dinner.?/p>
揊ine. Look I need to go. I抣l see you Saturday okay??/p>
揑 can抰 say for sure. But it will be before noon.?/p>
揃ye.?/p>
As Daria hung up the phone, she wondered what this was about. Several possibilities went through her mind but only a few seemed to make sense. She figured there was no point wasting her time speculating. There was nothing she could do but wait three more days until she could get back to Lawndale. To try to put the call out of her mind, she returned to her work.
Saturday morning, Daria pulled up in front of her parent抯 house. As she opened the front door, Quinn greeted her. "Hi Daria."
揌i Quinn.?/p>
揅抦on on in.?/p>
As they went into the living room, Daria saw Helen sitting on the couch.
揌i Mom.?/p>
Helen stood up and hugged Daria.
揌i Sweetie.?/p>
The three sat down and looked at each other. Daria spoke up. 揝o what抯 the news??/p>
揝he won抰 tell us until we抮e all together.?Helen said.
揝o where are they??/p>
Quinn looked at Daria.
揥e didn抰 expect you so early so they went to the hardware store. They should be back pretty soon.?/p>
To pass the time the trio discussed the recent events of their lives. Eventually Jake and Neil came in through the kitchen. Jake was the first to see Daria.
揌i Kiddo.?/p>
揌ey Dad. Hi Neil.?/p>
Neil smiled.
揌i Daria.?/p>
They were all together so Daria figured there was no point in waiting any longer.
揝o what抯 the big news??/p>
Quinn got up and walked over to Neil. As they stood together Quinn smiled.
揑抦 pregnant.?Quinn said.
Helen didn't say anything. She just stood up and hugged the pair. Jake was so thrilled all he could do was say, rather loudly, 揟hat抯 Great!?Daria just sat there.
After a few seconds everyone calmed down and the questions started.
揝o when are you due??Helen asked.
揂bout eight months.?Quinn replied.
Jake's question was a little different. 揝o what is it? A boy or a girl??/p>
Quinn rolled her eyes.
揑t抯 a little to soon to tell Dad.?/p>
揙h right. Sorry.?/p>
Finally, Quinn realized Daria hadn't moved.
揇aria? Are you okay??/p>
Daria snapped out for her fog.
揙h. Sorry. Congratulations.?/p>
The rest of the afternoon was spent in celebration. As the day wore on, Daria spent most of the time by herself. Wanting some time alone to think, she decided to return to the refuge of her youth.
Going upstairs, she walked down the hall and opened the door. As she went inside she looked around. Each time she came in here she was amazed at what she saw. She had moved out almost six years earlier and Mom and Dad hadn't changed a thing. Everything was just where she had left it all those years ago. Sitting on her bed she put her head in her hands and began some serious self-pity.
Quinn was going to have a baby. She knew it would happen eventually but she didn抰 figure she would take it this way. She was as close to Jane as she was to Quinn but she didn't take it anywhere near this hard when Jane told Daria she was expecting her first child last year. She figured it was because Quinn was her sister.
Growing up she never figured she wanted a family of her own but when she learned it wasn抰 possible for her to have children that started to change. Saying you didn't want something when you could change your mind was one thing but knowing it would definitely never happen made it a different matter. She thought she had grown enough to accept it. Now it seemed she still had some issues to work through. Sitting there in thought, she never heard Quinn enter the room.
揇aria??/p>
揌uh? Oh hi Quinn.?/p>
揗ind if I turn on the light??/p>
揋o ahead.?/p>
She flipped the switch on and went to sit by Daria.
揂re you okay??/p>
Daria looked at Quinn.
揑 guess so.?/p>
揑 hope this hasn抰 upset you too much.?/p>
揘o. I can deal with it.?/p>
揑 was afraid you would be hurt when you found out.?/p>
揑t hurts but it has nothing to do with you.?/p>
揜eally??/p>
揧es, really. I knew someday you would get pregnant. It just makes me think about what I can抰 have.?/p>
Quinn looked at her sister with a sad expression.
揙h. Well perhaps someday you will have a family. You can always adopt.?/p>
Daria gave Quinn a quick smile. She was doing her best to cheer her up and it was working a little.
揟hanks Quinn. I know. Who knows what will happen someday.?/p>
揟hen you抮e feeling better??/p>
揧es. I guess I forgot to say how happy I am for you.?Daria leaned over and hugged Quinn. 揅ongratulations.?/p>
揟hanks.?/p>
As they separated Quinn spoke up.
揗om and Dad want to take us out to dinner to celebrate. Can you stay over tonight? We really want you to be with us.?/p>
Daria gave her sister a brief smile.
揝ure. I don't have any plans at home.?/p>
揋reat.?/p>
Quinn got up and left Daria in her room. As she walked out the door she turned to look at her sister.
揗om and Dad are going to want to know where you are. What should I say??/p>
揟ell them I抣l be down in a minute.?/p>
揝ure.?/p>
After Quinn left Daria sat there a little while longer. She really was happy for Quinn and wanted her to know that. Her own feelings would have to be put aside for a while. After a few minutes she figured she should get back downstairs before Mom sent Dad up to find her. Leaving the room, she turned out the light.
Dinner was nice. They talked about all the things that had happened over the years and their hopes for the next generation. When they returned home it was pretty late so they all just went to bed. Neil didn抰 like the idea of sleeping in Quinn抯 old canopy bed so he and Quinn took the guest room. Daria stayed in her old room. As she lay there her mind went back to the events from earlier in the day and her condition. The strain finally caught up with her and in the privacy of her childhood sanctuary she cried herself to sleep.
The next morning Daria came downstairs to see everyone was already up. Jake greeted her.
揗orning Kiddo. Sit down. Mom made plenty of breakfast.?/p>
As Daria went to the table, she thought. 揕eave it to Mom. We move out, THEN she turns into Martha Stewart.?/p>
As Daria started serving her plate Helen looked over at her. 揝o did you sleep well last night??/p>
揧es. Why??/p>
揑t抯 just that I heard noises coming from your room last night and I抳e never known you to sleep in very often.?/p>
揧ou know how it is when you抮e in a strange bed.?/p>
揃ut that's your room how can it be strange??/p>
揑t hasn't been my room for some time.?/p>
Helen had never thought about that.
揙h.?/p>
Daria spoke up.
揗om, Dad I want to ask you a question.?/p>
Everyone looked at her.
揥hat is it Kiddo??Jake asked.
揥hy haven't you ever changed our rooms??/p>
Helen looked confused.
揥hat do you mean??/p>
揃oth Quinn and I have been gone for a while. When we do come back for a visit we use the guest room. Wouldn't it make sense to turn them into something more useful??/p>
Jake spoke first.
揃ut we miss you two and those rooms hold memories for us.?/p>
揚lus we haven't had any need for additional space so we decided to leave them alone.?Helen added.
Daria paused for a second. This was going to be a big comment she needed to be careful how she said it to prevent hurting her parent抯 feelings.
揃ut there抯 a new generation coming soon. Perhaps it抯 time to think about letting the past go and focusing on the future instead.?/p>
Both Jake and Helen looked at Quinn.
揇aria抯 got a point. When we visit we抣l need more space now.?/p>
Jake and Helen looked at each other. The girls made sense. The big question was what to do next.
揥e抣l think about it.?Helen said.
Daria left shortly after breakfast. All the way home she thought about the events from the day before. When she got back she had to call Jane. If anyone could help her understand what was happening, even a little, it would be Jane. As soon as she got home she dialed her number. When Jane picked up they didn抰 disconnect for almost two hours.
The next few months were busy for Daria. Almost every weekend she was visiting Quinn. It turned out to be great therapy for her as she got to witness her sister抯 happiness. Sometimes it was tough to take but the experience was really bringing them even closer together.
Eventually Jake and Helen took Daria抯 advice and decided to redo the old bedrooms. The only request they had was since she suggested it she needed to help. She agreed to lend a hand. When it came to her parents the years had softened her a good bit in that area.
When Daria learned what they had in mind she was pleased. Jake and Helen had decided to turn her old room into another guest room and Quinn's room would be a combination nursery and playroom.
The renovations didn't take too long. Daria抯 room was the biggest job. The toughest part was removing the metal bars from the windows. If a child slept there those definitely had to go. Of course her beloved padded walls came down as well. After all the holes had been patched Daria got the honor of selecting the color. Since she still wanted there to be some piece of her presence there she chose a gray that, when dry, looked pretty nice. After all the time it took to do her room Quinn's old room was a snap. Before too much time had passed everything was finished.
After the events of the previous weeks Daria really didn't want to see a paint roller again for a long time but when Quinn asked her to help paint the nursery she said yes. She wanted to show her support and it wouldn't take too long with three people there. When she showed up that Saturday Neil answered the door.
揌ey Daria.?/p>
揌i.?/p>
揝o are you ready to paint??/p>
揘ot really, but I guess it抯 too late to back out now.?/p>
Neil chuckled.
揥ell, come on up.?/p>
As they went upstairs, Daria thought about how much Neil had become part of the family. Quinn had met him while a freshman in college. She was having trouble and he offered to tutor her. She didn抰 seem too interested in him at the time but accepted his offer. As time passed, they quickly moved though all the stages of a relationship until by the end of the first year they were a real couple. Jake and Helen really liked him. He was helping their daughter through a tough time in her life and was a gentleman. Before too long he was a part of the family. Soon after he and Quinn graduated they got married. Now, a year later, they were starting a family.
As they got to the nursery Daria looked around. 揝o where's Quinn??/p>
揝he didn抰 like the color we chose for the trim so she went to the paint store to look at other choices.?/p>
揌ow long has she been gone??/p>
揂bout an hour.?Neil said.
揝o we抮e pretty much on our own for the rest of the day then.?/p>
They both laughed. One thing Neil hadn抰 been able to change about Quinn was her ability to waste time in a store. Once she got started shopping any concept of time vanished.
Neil looked at Daria. 揝o are you ready to start??/p>
揝ure.?/p>
揋reat. Grab a roller and start on that wall. I抣l finish this one.?/p>
Even though the room wasn抰 that big the project took most of the day. Eventually they decided to take a break. As they sat there they heard Quinn pull up. A minute later they heard her voice.
揘eil? Daria??/p>
Neil shouted back.
揥e抮e in the nursery.?/p>
揑抣l be right up.?Quinn said.
When she went into the room she saw them sitting there and looked at what they had done.
揕ooks nice.?She said.
Neil looked up.
揝o where were you all day??He asked.
揝orry about that. I stopped by Toddlerville. They had a class on vaccinations and other health?issues for babies. I stayed to hear the instructor.?/p>
揙kay.?Neil said. 揝o where抯 the new paint??/p>
Quinn slapped her forehead.
揜ats. I knew I forgot something.?/p>
Neil and Daria could only look at each other and shake their heads.
Over the next month, things finally began to calm some. Neil and Quinn had their nursery complete and the due date was still a few weeks off. Daria began having more time to herself again. She still visited Quinn but as the date approached her visits would have to stop for a little while. As Daria packed she was on the phone talking to her sister.
揧es. I know.?/p>
揑 don抰 want to go but they sprung it on me at the last minute.?/p>
揑t抯 not my choice. It抯 my job.?/p>
揟wo weeks.?/p>
揑 know the due date is approaching but I should be back well before then.?/p>
揕ook I hate to cut this off but the flight is in two hours and I have a pile of stuff to finish up.?/p>
揑抣l call you later okay??/p>
揙kay Bye.?/p>
Daria hung up the phone and sat on her bed. Quinn had always been high maintenance but these past few weeks had been extraordinary. She got at least four calls a day from her. All Daria could do was wonder how Neil was handling things. It couldn抰 be easy. She looked at the clock. She had less than ninety minutes. The call had really slowed her down. Quickly she rushed over, grabbed her case, and ran out the door.
Daria hated business travel. She wasn抰 much of a traveler to begin with but work trips were the worst. Almost all your time was spent in a windowless meeting room in some hotel basement and any time not spent in meetings was wasted in the room going over work. This time she had already wasted a week in this activity and dreaded the next seven days. Unfortunately there was nothing else to do so she sat on her bed and started reviewing what would likely be covered the next day. After a few hours of this she was grateful to hear the phone ring and break the monotony of her task.
揌ello??/p>
揗om??/p>
揥hat?!?/p>
揟hat抯 ten days early!?/p>
揑s she okay??/p>
揌ow about the baby??/p>
揥hat is it??/p>
揌ave they named her??/p>
換uinn. I should have known.?/p>
揑 can抰.?/p>
揑抦 leading the next few meetings. If I can I抣l try to get back a little earlier but I can抰 promise anything. You know how these things go.?/p>
揙kay. Thanks for telling me. Bye.?/p>
Daria sat on the bed. It wasn抰 unusual to deliver early. As a matter of fact she should have anticipated it. Both she had Quinn arrived several days before the due date. It was in the genes. At least they were both healthy. All she could do now was spend another miserable week here hoping things would be fine.
She went over to the window and looked out. She had wanted to be there when Quinn delivered.
When the trip was finally over Daria went straight from the airport to Quinn抯. Everything else would have to wait. She wanted to see her sister and niece as quickly as possible. When she got to their house Neil answered the door.
揌i Daria.?/p>
揌i.?Reaching out, she hugged him. 揅ongratulations.?/p>
揟hanks.?/p>
揝o where is she??/p>
揥hich one??/p>
揃oth.?Daria said.
揟hey抮e upstairs.?Neil said. 揅an抰 you hear them??/p>
It was then that Daria heard the crying.
揝he抯 got a strong set of lungs doesn抰 she??/p>
Neil laughed.
揟oo true.?/p>
揌ow抯 Quinn??Daria asked.
揟ired.?Neil said. 揥e both are. Ever since we got back we抳e been so busy we haven抰 had time to get much done. I was just cleaning up when you got here. Sometime today I need to get to the grocery store. There抯 barely anything in the house.?/p>
Daria looked at Neil.
揧ou make out a list of what you need. I抣l go to the store later. You stay here with the Quinns.?/p>
揟hat would be great. Thanks.?/p>
揘o problem.?/p>
揝o how would you like to meet your niece??/p>
揟hat抯 why I抦 here. Should I go on up??/p>
揘o. Things are a little messy right now. I抣l go upstairs and get them. Quinn will bring her down here.?/p>
揊ine.?/p>
Daria sat down and waited. A few seconds later, Quinn came down the stairs carrying a small but very loud bundle.
揌i Quinn.?/p>
揌i Daria.?/p>
Quinn walked over to her.
揇aria. Meet your niece.?/p>
As Quinn started to hand her over, Daria pulled back. Quinn looked at her. 揑s something wrong??/p>
揘o. No. It抯 just she seems upset and I don抰 want to make things worse.?/p>
Quinn smiled. 揇on抰 worry about that. The only time she doesn抰 cry is when I'm nursing her or she抯 asleep. Go ahead it抯 fine.?/p>
揥ell if you say so.?/p>
Carefully she took her niece into her arms. Suddenly the crying stopped. Neil and Quinn were shocked. Quinn looked at Daria.
揥hat did you do??/p>
揌uh??/p>
揥hat did you do??/p>
揥hat do you mean??/p>
揌ow抎 you make her stop crying??/p>
揑 didn't do anything. I just took her.?/p>
揥ell you must have something special because this is the first time she抯 been quiet for this long.?/p>
揜eally??/p>
Carefully, Daria changed the position of her right hand so she could move the blanket away from Quinn抯 face. As she did Quinn reached out and grabbed her index finger. Daria couldn抰 help smiling.
Looking down at her niece, she said. 揌ello Quinn. I抦 your Aunt Daria but you can call me A.D.?/p>
The End
As usual, Daria is owned by MTV. This was written for my amusement only.