Grainy

== Revised text ==
Date/Timing: ~1 May 2019; about the time when an ultrasound would start looking like a baby
Setting: Chantell's office, The Shed; Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
.
Pietr floats in clutching a tablet and Chantell'd /swear he's surrounded by an anime-esque cloud of hearts.
She grins, chirps, "Good morning, sunshine~!"
Pietr flips the tablet around, peeks over a—
"What am I ...."
—grainy— 
"Oh my gosh!"
—black—
"Is this ...?"
Pietr nods enthusiastically.
—and white—
"They're so /cute!"
Pietr sparkles.
—ultrasound picture.
"Dad /has to see this!" Reaches—"May I?"
Pietr schools his face into something 'solemn', humbly settles the tablet in her hands.
Chantell bows her head, then beams. "Oh, Da-ad~!" Skips into the Marshal's office.
.
== Original Text ==
Formerly "Family"
24 March 2019
Sydney, NSW, Australia
In the middle of a heated Pokemon battle, Pietr's phone pulses four times. He pulls it out with one hand, ruffles Chuck's hair with the other, and jogs from the room.
JASMYNTEE: call me asap
.
Griet answers immediately, peeking over a—
::What's ....::
... grainy ...
::The doctor just confirmed it.::
... black ...
::How f- ...?::
::Six weeks.::
... and white ...
::I'm due at the start of November.:: 
... ultrasound.
::Say something.::
::Happy. Terrified.:: Pietr tries to reorient himself. ::Baby!:: Laughs. ::We've dreamed of kids.:: Runs a hand through his hair. ::I'm so far away ....::
::Come back. Or bring me to Sydney.::
::I can't leave. I have two more years on my enlistment. And I can't bring you here. It's too dangerous.::
::It's not too dangerous for you!::
::I live in a Kaiju-proof fortress! You would be in the city. A target. I can't have that. It's better for you to stay with family.::
::Then come home!::
::I can't! I have a contract and there's no work for me! It has to be this way!::
::What about the army?::
::We've talked about this. They won't take me and the pay here is better.::
::This isn't about money! This is about family! Our place is together! Especially now!::
::I want to be there! More than anything! I never wanted to leave!::
::I didn't want you to, either! But you went anyway!::
::I'm sorry! I didn't think there was another choice. Maybe ... maybe I made a mistake, but I can't get out of it now. Not for two more years.::
::So we're stuck.::
::I'm sorry. I didn't expect a baby so soon. If I'd known, I would've chosen differently. I didn't mean for it to go this way.::
::I know, I know. I didn't, either. But here we are.::
::Here we are.::Category:Ficlet
Category:Skeleton Key
Category:Sydney Shatterdome (setting)
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr (ficlet
Category:Chantell
Category:Chantell's POV
Category:Chantell (ficlet)
Category:Anni (mention)
Category:Nguyen (mention)