Time flew fast, and in order to have more babies, Leiah needed to have a LOT of birthdays.
Drum rolls please! Here's the time machine baby, Corrie! She looked like such a mini-me of Leiah!
She was a super girly girl, and LOVED pink!
Here's the handsome butterfly baby, Emett!
He was always making people laugh, which can be shown in his choice of clothing.
Here's Eitri! He accidentally blinked for the picture, but he still has Leiah's dark blue eyes!
Everybody thought that he would be emo because his father was a vampire. This annoyed Eitri; especially because his teeth were starting to form into fangs, and he had small buds for wings on his back; so he always wore bright colors. His favorite color was a greenish-yellow.
Here's baby Ian! And to answer the question on his shirt, "super cute"!!!
Aaaaand, last but most definitely not least is little Ike! Some people were a little scared of his big, yellow, slanted eyes, and truthfully, Leiah was a little worried too. She called Ash and he said that he was the same way as a child, and that little Ike should grow into his unique eyes, and look a little less buggish... Although he is sort of a bug. :)
For this baby, Leiah was wearing pink, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month!
Corrie's love of pink is so fitting for Breast Cancer Awareness month!!!
Paying for this many kids, and all the bills for this big of a house is hard, and Leiah was getting low on money, so she got to painting some more.
Just look at that little tushie!!!
Well hello pretty pink lady!
Leiah was going stir crazy, so she went to the park, and while she was there, she saw a man with angel wings and a halo! Perfect for Leiah's goal of having 4 daddies with wings! She already had 3 daddies, he could be the 4th!
Leiah was talking about the importance of family, and was just about to ask him to be the next daddy of her challenge, when he interrupted her.
"I completely agree!"The man said.
"I love my mother so much, she's the most important thing to me."
He was all smiles.
But then, suddenly, he went very solemn.
"I'm sorry, it's just that, I'm taking care of my mom right now... Her health is failing."
"She had breast cancer awhile ago, and even though the cancer is gone, it really took a toll on her health. Now she's getting older, and the breast cancer has done a lot to her, so she's pretty sick."
"You know, I'm so sorry."
"And excuse me for being so forward, but would you like to go to the bistro and have a bite to eat with me?"
The man smiled."Sure."
They each ate something at the bistro, and when they were finished eating, they talked a little."Don't take this the wrong way, but if your mother is sick, how come you're out and about?"
"I left her at home with the doctor. I can't stand to be there when the doctor is there, it makes me too sad."
"I get it, really."
"By the way, I guess I neglected to get your name... Or tell you mine for that matter. My name is Joseph Angel. Yours?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm Leiah Mistoffelees."
"I feel like you understand me... Would you like to come to my house tomorrow and meet my mother? I'm sure she'd really like to talk to somebody other than me or the doctor for a change."
"I would really like that! I'll be there tomorrow."Leiah said goodbye then and went home for the night.
Joseph had said to come over any time, so the next morning, she used the directions he gave her and headed to his house.
Joseph had a small house in a swampy area, but somehow it fit him.
Leiah knocked on the door and waited...
Joseph greeted her and invited her inside.
Leiah walked in, and there was an older woman lying on the bed napping. Joseph said her name was Sarah.But when Leiah walked in, the woman woke up.
"The doctor told her to walk around a little bit everyday, and I told her about your coming, so it gives her an excuse to get up."
"How are you feeling? Ms. Angel?"
"Call me Sara dear, and I guess I'm feeling as good as I can for being in the process of dying. But then again, when we're born, aren't we all already dying?"
Leiah nodded at her.
"You know your house is very nice."Leiah said, trying to get off the uncomfortable subject.
"Thank you dear. When I get up I like to clean. Joseph isn't necessarily the best at doing that."
All of a sudden, Leiah gave Sarah a hug.
When they pulled apart, Sarah questioned her."What was that for dear?"
"It's just that you remind me so much of my mom, who died from breast cancer."
This time, it was Sarah who initially hugged Leah.
Joseph was in the bathroom, watching them through the mirror and listening, when he heard Leiah talking about her mother.
"Leiah! I heard what you said about your mother, I guess you do understand a little more than I thought..."
"Yeah, I miss her sometimes, but I'm okay."
As unexpectedly as Leiah had hugged Sarah, Joseph put his arms tenderly around Leiah."I have a confession to make, I knew who you were. I just pretended like I didn't."
"I guess what I'm trying to say is... Well... I'd like to be the next father of your challenge. I know my mother has secretly always wanted grandchildren, and you came at the perfect time, because I'm hoping she could see her grandchildren before she dies."
He pulled away from her, but still held her hands."So, what do you say?"
"Well I can't say no..."
He gently kissed her.
Which led to cuddling on the bed. And while Sarah was getting treatment at the hospital, the cuddling led to...
Making baby 16!!!
Afterwards, as they listened to the sound of the baby lullaby, Leiah laid there for a while and smiled at him. She thought she had been in love before with Ash, but this felt more real. She felt good about this pregnancy.
She even allowed herself to cuddle with him before saying goodbye.
The next day, Leiah went to go visit Karni.
Because they had a LOT to catch up on.
"Hi Karni! Where is he?
He's with my husband in the living room.Yep, her husband!
Okay, to explain. Karni married Dustin Callahan, and they had a little baby boy named Scot. Explains a lot doesn't it?
"Congrats! "
"I will admit that it's a little bit weird that you were a father for my challenge and now you're my son-in-law, but I am truly happy for you."
"Well that's good, because I really do love Karni, and I understand now why you wanted to be a mother so badly, being a father is the best."
After seeing her first grandchild, Leiah hugged Karni goodbye and left.
Leiah really was telling the truth. While it was a little bit weird to see one of the fathers of her baby marry her daughter, she was truly happy for them.
This pregnancy made Leiah feel so happy! She didn't even have any back pains or nausea!
The next day, Leiah had two things to get done. First, was to see her doctor and find out what gender the baby was.
(Don't pay attention to the old lady in the purple dress XD)Dr. Knack said that she would be having a girl! Yay! The long string of boys ends!
The next thing she needed to do was meet Joseph and Sarah at the park, Sarah wanted to see Leiah.
Sarah smiled as she felt Leiah's stomach."Do you know what gender the baby is?"
Leiah nodded."It's a girl."
"You know you're looking a lot better."
"Oh I feel so much better dear, this baby has given me hope."
Leiah smiled."Well that's great! I'm so happy I could help!"
Leiah gave her a hug goodbye.
Before this, Joseph had been giving the two some space, but now he came over and felt Leiah's stomach. He was just as excited as his mother, if not more, about this baby."Woah! She's a strong one!"
Leiah nodded, then just realized that he didn't have his wings.
"Hey, where did your wings go?"
"Oh, that. Yeah, I have no idea why, maybe it's because I'm only half angel, but my wings disappear every once in a while. They come back eventually."
Joseph felt her stomach again, and talked to the baby."You are helping your grandma so much little one."
Leiah smiled and gave him a hug goodbye as well. This one, naturally, a little bit more intimate than the one between Leiah and Sarah. (Do you see the glowing behind them? That's Ash, he was sitting on the bench. Let me tell you, when they hugged, he was none to pleased XD)
The baby was growing...
...growing...
....growing!
Until finally, Leiah went into labor! Leiah knew there was contractions, but for some odd reason wasn't in pain.
She just calmly went to the hospital.
Joseph even came, and look, his wings are back!
Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the world, baby 16, Asha Mistoffelees. Asha means hope, as she gave her grandmother hope.
That's not all folks! Welcome baby 17, Echo Mistoffelees! Echo was a greek nymph that was very helpful to people. As baby Echo helped her grandmother.
The next morning, Leiah brought over Asha to meet her grandmother."Meet one of your granddaughters Sarah, her name is Asha."
"I'm sorry that I couldn't bring the other baby, two babies is too much to carry."
"Oh it's fine dear."
"So you said her name was Asha, that means hope! That's wonderful!"
"What is the other one's name?"
"Echo. Her name is Echo."
"Ah, yes, the greek nymph! Such lovely names."
Leiah said goodbye and hurried home, she always hated leaving her kids with a babysitter, but it was needed.
Around 4:00 the next day, Leiah got a call from Joseph. He said his mother had been taking a nap, and she died in her sleep. Leiah's mouth fell open.
"What?! But she was doing so well! I just saw her yesterday and she said she was feeling a lot better!"
"I know"Joseph said over the phone.
"She said the twins made her feel complete, and that she could die anytime and be happy. I didn't think she meant that literally."
"Alright, well, I'll be right over."
By the time Leiah got there, it was dark. Joseph greeted her at the door.
Once inside, she gave him a hug. Because he was crying.
She had never seen him more sad.
"Are you going to be okay?"She knew it was a stupid question, but it had to be asked.
He nodded.
But Leiah could tell his mind was on his mother.
Leiah went to the backyard where Sarah's grave was and mourned, she had just lost a great friend.
The grave was by the water, with flowers surrounding it.
After letting her grieve by herself for a while, Joseph came out and they mourned together.
After making sure that Joseph was going to be okay, Leiah headed home.
And how fitting is it, that the granddaughters of someone who died from breast cancer, and the other died after having breast cancer, should be...pink?
