Work Text
"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" Kayleigh yelled into the house. She pulled her suitcase over the doorway and kicked off her snow covered boots.
"Welcome home dear! I'll be out in just a second. I'm helping your sister with this last batch of cookies." Ilithiya yelled back. There was a clanging and "oh no"s as somebody dropped what sounded like a baking sheet. Jayden ran out of the kitchen with a handful of chocolate chips and something that looked suspiciously like mom's phone.
Kayleigh smiled. It was good to be back home. Even if things were a little hectic in a family of eight people. She passed by the living room, where Brayden was playing video games on the couch.
"So that's why Kayden texted me earlier." Kayleigh remarked. Brayden just raised an eyebrow in question. "She was asking about bonnet and robe sets. Apparently you've been stealing mom's bonnet lately."
Brayden reached up to pat his head. Oh yeah, he had forgotten he put that on earlier. "Mom's stuff is just so nice."
"Honestly. She's got the softest robe." Kingsley broke in. He was wearing mom's robe. Which had definitely faded over the years. The edges looked like they were starting to fringe a bit. He pushed past his older sister and took a spot next to Brayden. "Next game you're adding me in."
"Brothers." Kayleigh rolled her eyes. She pulled her suitcase through the room and toward the stairs. Then she remembered something. "Speaking of brothers. Did you guys get Jaxon's text earlier? About hiding all mom and dad's devices?"
"Yeah that was so weird. We were hoping you knew something about it." Kingsley scratched at his nose. He pulled a device out of the robe pocket. "I've got dad's right here. So far I've left about six? Maybe seven selfies on it. And I think Jayden was supposed to get mom's."
Kayleigh nodded. She bid her younger brothers a farewell and carried her suitcase upstairs and to her room. Utah ran into her in the hallway and insisted on carrying the suitcase the rest of the way. He gave her so many welcome home hugs and asked her all about college life across the country.
"I promise it's going well dad. Let me get unpacked first. Please."
"Oh alright. I've just missed having my little girl around." Utah gave his daughter one last hug. "If you need me I'll be downstairs making dinner. How are we feeling about spaghetti and meatballs? It's easy to reheat if your brother gets here late."
"Simple. But delicious. And school meatballs are awful compared to yours. You've really got us spoiled dad." Kayleigh laughed. She waved bye to her dad and started unpacking. It was weird visiting home after moving out to go to college. Sure, she came to visit over Thanksgiving. But she barely stayed three days. And it wasn't a whole family ordeal. Kayden had gone to a friend's house to be some sort of moral support. And Jaxon had to stay at school over the holiday. Though he called and promised mom and dad over and over during the two hour long phone conversation that New York and Missy were feeding him well.
Speaking of New York and Missy, as Kayleigh scrolled through her social media, she began to realize why Jaxon was so insistent that they hide all the electronics in the house.
The top post when Kayleigh opened her Facebook feed was a pregnancy announcement. The photo was Missy and New York sitting next to each other. Missy held up an ultrasound and New York held up two Buffalo Bills yarmulkes. One was normal sized. The other was a small, baby sized yarmulke. The two New Yorkers had rare smiles on their faces.
The comments underneath were various congratulations from the other Mr. and Mrs. states. As well as family members. New York's Grams had the longest comment. Kayleigh only skimmed through it lightly. She left her own congratulations message before taking a much needed nap.
She was awakened for dinner a few hours later by Kayden shaking her. "It's dinner time sleepy head."
Kayleigh threw a pillow at her sister, which Kayden dodged. But she got up anyway. Downstairs her brothers were loudly setting the table for dinner. Apparently making a competition of it. She had to duck under Jaxon throwing a roll of paper towels at Kingsley.
"Good to see you home loser. Travel safe?" Kayleigh asked as she took a seat at the table.
"I did. Did you guys hide the electronics like I asked?" Jaxon asked back.
"I did!" Jayden held up her bag of items. "So are you going to tell us why we had to do this?"
"Later, after dinner." Jaxon waved his sister off. "Mom, Dad. You coming?"
Ilithiya set the last of the dishes on the table and took her seat. She scolded Brayden for having his elbows up on the table. "Your father will be here in a minute. He had to check something on his work computer."
Jaxon, and Kayleigh, paled. Work computer? Dad had a work computer? How could they forget about a work computer?
"OH! Ilithiya! Did you hear the news?" Utah called as he came back downstairs. He didn't really wait for a response. He pulled Ilithiya up and out of her seat and into a little spin and hold. "New York and Missy just made an announcement. They're having a baby!"
"Oh that's amazing!" Ilithiya leaned into Utah's chest. She rubbed her hands over him, ignoring the exaggerated gagging from her children. "You know... they say stopping at six kids is for quitters."
Utah nibbled at Ilithiya's ear. His children at the table fake-gagged more and covered their eyes. "They do say that dear. Are you proposing we try for another?"
"Not tonight! Spaghetti and meatballs tonight! No new siblings!" Jaxon yelled. Brayden still had Ilithiya's bonnet and pulled the entire thing over his face. "No more family gatherings if this is how you two will behave."
Ilithiya and Utah laughed at their childrens' reactions. But still pulled away from each other. Of course, not without Utah squeezing Ilithiya's behind one last time. "So, Jaxon, Kayleigh. Tell us about school."