The Compromise

Chris was relieved when Persephone didn't hesitate to tell that giant gorilla that she was his girl. That didn't mean he liked seeing her cornered by some rando that clearly had a hard-on for her.

He was grateful when Aunt Micaela walked the drinks they had to the counter and asked they be poured into paper cups. As she handled business, he left a nice tip on the table and promptly steered Persephone out the door as they waited for his aunt to join them.

As soon as the door closed behind them Persephone turned to face him. "Chris, are there suppressed thoughts on the subject of kids because I thought the subject was closed?"

He frowned. "Was it? I don't remember us agreeing to anything other than using a condom that night." He looked inside to see how Micaela was doing.

"I don't want kids," Persephone told him sternly but quickly sighed and exhaled forcefully. "At least I didn't, but then Micaela made me see I needed to reconsider since my life has changed so much since I came to that decision."

His head snapped toward her. He was relieved at her last comment.

"I don't know, Chris, but this isn't a conversation to have lightly," he saw her look at their surroundings. "Definitely not in public like this, but I know you're nowhere near ready to become a father," her tone was surprisingly calm given how passionate she had been on the subject on Christmas.

Chris scoffed. "You don't know that."

His girl stepped in front of him with a smile. That expression always got him.

She framed his jaw between her hands. "Tell you what, baby, let's grab some burgers and fries from that McDonald's place two blocks over, we'll go to Micaela's old office, and we'll have a thorough conversation about this as we eat that meal."

He laughed mockingly. "McDonald's? Not in this lifetime," He motioned his head toward the interior of the business they stood in front of. "I'd sooner have that ape in there prepare me a meal as my back is turned."

Persephone nodded matter-of-factly. "Exactly my point." She stepped away and walked away from him to the open the door as Aunt Micaela came outside with a drink carrier and a bag. Persephone immediately grabbed the drinks and began walking away with his aunt leaving him behind.

Feeling like he just failed a big test he rushed behind the women who were already a half-block away. "What do you mean that's your point?" He called out behind her.

"Chris, you have no idea what it's like to care for a kid," she informed him. "You don't know what kids are like or what they like."

Chris scoffed. "No kid of ours is going to like McDonald's because we'll never give it McDonald's."

His walking stunted when Micaela called him name in a tone that suggested he was in trouble and Persephone spun around to stare at him.

"You're making decisions for me again?" She accused, "I haven't even decided if I want kids and you're already telling me how to mother a potential child?"

Chris's stomach tightened.

Persephone rolled her eyes at him and resumed walking.

Aunt Micaela stayed behind. "Darling, if I may give you some advice," she placed her free hand on his arm. "Don't say anything else until you're at the old office, and once we're there, really think about your words before they come out of your mouth." She patted his arm. "Motherhood is a world filled with judgment that is realistic, implied and imaginary and each form cuts just as deep." She motioned toward Persephone's march. "You already judged her and you two aren't even expecting yet."

Chris motioned toward his girl. "I didn't judge!"

She handed him the bag of pastries and put her arm through his, steering him toward the old office. "If she imagined you judging her, you pretty much did. Trust me on this one."

As soon as he and Aunt Micaela walked into the office, Persephone was already sitting in the living room sipping from her coffee cup. "Mmmmm," she moaned. "This is really good coffee, he was right."

"Do you have to have to express yourself in such a sexual manner?" Chris immediately criticized. "Mmmmm." he mimicked her moan.

Aunt Micaela was quick to pinch him on the back of his hand; the only exposed part of him that wasn't hiding under the layers of his gray business suit.

"Ouch!" His hand flew away from his aunt's pinchers.

"What did I say, Chris?!" She raised her voice.

"What is wrong with you today, Chris?" Persephone snapped as she waved an open hand in his direction. "Your vibes are," she paused. "They're chaotic and all over the place."

Chris walked to the table where Persephone had placed the coffee. He grabbed one of the drinks to see for himself if it was truly as orgasmic as his girl had described. He brought the lid to his lips and fuck, he nearly passed out of sheer pleasure as the warmth and the robust flavor humped every tastebud on his tongue as it made its way down his throat.

He heard the women speaking but everything sounded muffled. He felt himself losing his balance and hoped the women didn't notice when his body jerked forward against the table to support itself from falling.

"Micaela, would you mind staying for this conversation, please?" His girl's words were finally staring to come in clear again. "I would like an expert witness here."

Aunt Micaela chuckled. "Well, I wasn't planning on going anywhere. "

He spun around to see both ladies sitting. It hurt him to have to separate himself from that delicious cup of coffee, but it would hurt his pride more if the women found out he nearly orgasmed because of it. Chris joined the ladies who were sitting next to each other on the sofa. Persephone was sitting on the right, her body leaning toward Micaela. He big spooned her, kissed her neck and caressed her thigh.

"Ugh," Aunt Micaela uttered. "If clothing starts flying off, I'm leaving."

The prospect did not sound too bad to Chris, especially since the coffee had revved his libido already. He smiled at his aunt, bit his lower lip and reached for his tie.

Aunt Micaela was not amused, nor was her eyebrow.

Persephone must have noticed the eyebrow as well because she turned from Micaela to him, halting his hands immediately. "Ugh, Chris. Let's get serious. This is important." Persephone moved a bit away to look into his eyes. "Do you actually want kids right now for yourself or do you just want to make your mom happy?"

He scoffed. What kind of question was that? "Of course, I want kids," his tone adopted insult.

"Right now?" Persephone stressed. "If I told you I was pregnant now and we'd have our own little munchkin delivered in eight months you would be happy? Without a doubt?"

"Yeah!" He did not hesitate. "I would be the happiest man in the world."

Persephone nodded. "Okay, but why exactly would inspire the feeling of happiness?"

He scoffed again. "What kind of question is that? A little bit of you, a little bit of me in the flesh to kiss and hug forever. Pfft, that would be the best thing ever!"

His girl nodded slowly - but then she smiled.

Not an ordinary smile. Her lips curbed in a tight upward smiled and her eyes adopted a cold and cruel look in her eyes that made him shiver. The stare was full-on evil and cold.

Aunt Micaela shifted in her seat. She looked downright amused as she looked at Persephone. "Oh, Chris, darling, look at this. The Scorpio tail is about to strike." She tossed a decorative pillow at his chest. "I suggest you get familiar with this look but fast."

Persephone squared her shoulders and point blank asked, "And you're ready to sacrifice sex with me for a kid?"

Chris flinched. What did one have to do with another? He frowned. "I mean- why would I have to? they sleep a lot right?"

Persephone's look softened as did her smile. He quickly realized why. That look was meant for Micaela. "Care to take this one, Micaela?"

Aunt Micaela nodded. "Gladly." She leaned her body forward. "Honey, the thing is that you never know what you get until you actually get it." She shifted in her seat. "Kids are a grab bag of uncertainty until they're born. Some kids sleep a lot, some kids don't sleep at all."

Chris shrugged. "So- we'll leave it in the crib by itself when it's fussy."

Micaela laughed out loud.

Persephone sighed and shook her head as she covered her face with her hand. "Oh, so many things wrong with what you just said," she uncovered her eyes and looked at him. "My main concern would be leaving the kid alone while it's crying, possibly contorting. I would be afraid of SIDS, but that's just one point of a plethora of them."

Chris's eyes widened. He sighed as he rubbed his mouth. His stomach was starting to feel nervous. "Why would we invite this Sid over if he's going to make you nervous."

Persephone stared at him incredulously. Aunt Micaela pursed her lips and shook her head.

"What?" He asked.

Aunt Micaela stood. "You know what? I have an idea. I'm going to Mildred's. I'll be back soon." When the door closed, Chris quickly turned Persephone's face to him for a kiss, but she pulled away.

"By the way," she started, "If I want to feed our child McDonald's, I'm going to feed our child McDonald's. You're not the one that's going to be home, chasing it, cleaning it, comforting it, making sure it doesn't accidentally kill itself by sticking its little, tiny fingers into the wall sockets, or making sure it doesn't run into Puget Sound."

Persephone stood up facing him. "Kids are hard, Chris. You have no idea what you're in for."

He ignored all but one word. "Babe, you know what else is hard?" he pointed to the evidence in his pants. "Me. Come here," he stretched his hand out her way.

She ignored it and bent over to grab her coffee instead. She walked it to the table and sat down on a chair. "We can't. Micaela said she'll be back soon." She sighed. "Baby," she leaned forward. "You and your Type A personality, tsk-tsk- tsk." She shook her head. "You and a kid would not mesh. Kids are messy, puking, pooping little disasters that need a lot of things all the time to keep them clean, comfortable, dry, fed, distracted. You couldn't handle it. They require so much patience." She shook her head. "You're going to have to trust me on this one. You're not ready."

He hated that his girl doubted him. Chris stood. "Try me."

The door burst open. Aunt Micaela walked in holding an egg. "Melissa had this project in high school where she had to pretend an egg was a baby for a week. Why don't we let Chris try that?"

Persephone stared at the egg with disdain. "No fucking way. Not an egg. Eggs are nothing like babies."

Chris waved his finger excitedly. "What about that baby Santa brought Olivia? The one that eats and shits?"

Micaela gasped with delight. "That sounds good, I'll schedule a play date!" Micaela handed Chris the egg and walked to her purse.

Persephone nodded. "It's a start... but I have to look into something else first."

And there it was.

The Scorpio stare his aunt told him to familiarize himself with.

Chris developed an unsettling feeling in the pit of his stomach.