Oh, Baby

*Oh, Baby* is the second installment in the *New Planet, New Life* series by MiyaWritesThings, under the original pseudonym VocaloidAnimeFreak. It was originally published on July 26, 2013 on FanFiction.net, and was published to Archive of Our Own on August 30, 2013.

## Summary

Vriska and John, ages 19 and 20, are engaged and ready to take on the world together. Everything they've planned for their wedding is perfect...but then something happens when they least expect it. Or, in other words, Vriska somehow ends up pregnant.

Takes place about a year after *I'd Only Choose You*, but can be read standalone. Side pairings include (major) Karezi, Rosemary, and hinted DaveJade.

## Chapter-by-Chapter

### Chapter 1: Prologue

The prologue summarizes the happenings between the ending of *I'd Only Choose You* and now. Vriska is now officially living on Earth, and is dating John. While Karkat and Terezi are on their honeymoon in Los Angeles, John helps Vriska move into her own apartment. She also gets a job as a waitress at Red Dragon.

### Chapter 2: Engaged

John invites Vriska to go boating on Pipe Lake. The two cruise around for a bit before stopping to watch the sunset. While they are stopped, John admits that although they haven't been dating for long, he loves her, and he proposes. Vriska enthusiastically accepts and throws her arms around him, but the force of the hug knocks the box out of his hands and into the water. The two immediately jump in, and John is fortunately able to find it.

The two drive back to the Egberts' house with the AC on full blast to dry them off. Mr. Egbert greets the two and asks how the boat ride was, and Vriska announces their engagement. Mr. Egbert is not too thrilled about the two getting engaged so soon and so young, but tries not to make his full emotions obvious.

However, Mr. Egbert gets used to Vriska, and doesn't even care she's a troll. Even so, Vriska has a tendency to act immature at times, having turned to pop culture to develop her personal image on Earth. She even picked up smoking and drinking whenever she could, somehow managing to hide it from John.

The rest of the summer flies by as John and Vriska prepare for their upcoming wedding.

### Chapter 3: Triple-check

In mid-December, Mr. Egbert leaves to go on a business trip. Although his dad had a "no one over while I'm gone" rule, John assumes that rule no longer applies as he's now a legal adult, and invites Vriska over to watch a movie. The two watch *Con-Air* in John's bedroom, which culminates in the both of them losing their virginities to each other.

Two months later, Vriska arrives at work, irritated. She's thrown up every morning for the past week, and Terezi asks her if she's getting sick. Vriska's more worried about Kanaya coming over later that day, and decides to look more into it later.

When she gets home, Vriska does a Google search to try to figure out what might be wrong. She quickly rules out digestive issues and cyclic vomiting disease, but the only result that matches her symptoms is pregnancy. She is extremely confused, as she and John are different species and shouldn't be able to reproduce with each other. Even so, Vriska decides to head to the drugstore to buy a pregnancy test.

She grumbles about the high prices, but decides to buy three tests from three different brands just to make sure. At home, she ponders how pregnancy tests actually work, but takes the tests anyway. While the timer counts down, Vriska wonders what she'll do if they come out positive. John might be able to, but she doesn't think she'd do a good job taking care of a child, believing she's a terrible person. Finally, the timer goes off, and Vriska goes back into the bathroom. All three tests are positive.

### Chapter 4: Confirmation

Vriska anxiously calls John and tells him the news. John is confused and reasonably freaks out, and immediately heads over to Vriska's apartment to figure things out. Once he gets there, she shows him the positive tests, and he decides they should go to a doctor to make sure.

The couple go to Planned Parenthood, where doctors do a blood test that reveal Vriska is indeed pregnant. The doctor mentions she has the option of terminating the pregnancy, but Vriska decides against it. After speaking to a counselor about all their options, the two head back to Vriska's apartment, and John tells Vriska that she doesn't have to go through with the pregnancy if she doesn't want to. She responds that she spent her whole life killing other people, and now that she's on Earth she doesn't want to do it again. John reminds her that children are difficult to raise, but all Vriska is concerned about is him breaking up with her. He reaffirms their love, reminding her they're getting married in just two months, but he *is* worried about what his dad will think. Now that they're going to have a baby, though, they have a reason to move in together and maybe even buy a house.

Once they get back to Vriska's apartment, Vriska trolls Kanaya to ask when she plans on coming over. Kanaya says she is already packed, so she'll be over shortly, and Vriska tells John they'd better go over to his house so they're there when Kanaya arrives. John agrees, but emphasizes they are *not* telling his dad yet. Vriska confesses her fears, but John suggests that the situation may actually prove to Mr. Egbert that Vriska is a mature adult.

John and Vriska greet Kanaya, and return to Vriska's apartment. Before he leaves, John quietly tells Vriska he doesn't want her to tell Kanaya the news until after they've told his dad, and Vriska agrees.

### Chapter 5: The Secret is Out

Several weeks have passed, and an obstetrician confirms Vriska is nine weeks along. Not much else happens, other than Vriska continuing to get morning sickness.

It is now mid-March, and John notices Vriska hasn't been eating as much as she usually does. She claims she ate a late breakfast and isn't hungry, but in actuality Vriska is really concerned about not being able to fit into her wedding dress and is trying to eat less. John reluctantly pushes the matter aside and reminds her they're going out to dinner with Mr. Egbert that night with the intention of telling him the news, and Vriska tells John to pick her up at 5:45. After he leaves, Kanaya mentions that Vriska looks like she has a lot on her mind, but Vriska blames it on wedding stress and asks for help cleaning.

At Applebee's, Vriska is a nervous wreck, and despite trying to converse with the others mostly just ends up listening to the conversation and picking at her food. John pays the entire bill, surprising Mr. Egbert, and says the couple have something they need to tell him. Vriska tells her future father-in-law she and John are expecting a baby, but her announcement is only met with a long silence. John repeats the news, and Mr. Egbert is not pleased.

John takes Vriska home, and during the car ride she asks why Mr. Egbert is so mad, since on Earth, having babies is seen as a good thing. John points out that it usually is, but only if the couple is married, and they aren't married yet and are still so young. Vriska still doesn't understand, and John asks her if she even really knows anything about babies, to which she shakes her head. John wonders if going through with it is even a good idea anymore, and Vriska angrily gets out of the car and walks home.

Kanaya welcomes her back, but Vriska ignores her and goes straight into the bedroom, locking the door behind her. She begins to cry, and ten minutes later, Kanaya enters through the bathroom door, since Vriska forgot to lock that one. Kanaya asks her what's wrong, and after a bit of pressing, Vriska hands her a sonogram picture, revealing her pregnancy. Kanaya is shocked and confused, but assures Vriska everything will be okay before leaving her alone for the time being. Vriska goes into the bathroom to clean up her makeup, but is distracted by how hungry she is. Despite her audible hunger, she reminds herself that she needs to be able to fit into her wedding dress in a few weeks, and goes to join Kanaya on the couch to watch some TV. While walking over to the couch, Vriska's head begins to throb and she stumbles, and she passes out.

### Chapter 6: Staying Strong

In the early hours of the next day, Vriska wakes up in the hospital, and John informs her that she is really sick and underweight from not eating. He is really worried about the baby; the ultrasound technician said it is a little small but otherwise fine. Vriska apologizes for being a letdown, and John assures her she's not, but admits his dad doesn't like her and thinks she's immature.

A nurse enters the room, and after she checks on Vriska John informs her that she needs to focus on gaining weight while she's in the hospital. Vriska again expresses frustration about the possibility of paying so much to have to alter her wedding dress, and John tells her she's being selfish. Before the couple can argue anymore, the nurse returns with a tray of food, and Vriska forces herself to eat it while John watches. Once she's finished, the doctor enters the room, and lays out her daily itinerary, as well as informs her she has a counseling session scheduled for the following day. After he leaves the room, John tells Vriska he has class the next day, so he has to get going, but he'll be back the next day during visiting hours.

### Chapter 7: Counseling & Peanuts

The next day, Vriska is awoken by another nurse bringing her breakfast. After eating breakfast, she tries to watch some TV, but spends most of her time on her laptop. She starts making lists of baby names, one with names she likes and another with names she hates. As she's finishing up her list, another nurse enters, informing her it's time for a short counseling session.

The nurse wheels Vriska to the counselor's office on the other side of the hospital. The counselor, Mary, greets Vriska, but Vriska is already sick of counseling after only two days. She insists she does not have anorexia, but Mary tells her admitting and accepting it is the first step to recovery, and she needs to remain healthy so the baby grows strong. Mary asks Vriska if she has written in the journal she was given the previous day, and Vriska says no. Mary then apologizes for such a short session, and reminds Vriska to write in the journal before saying she'll see her in two days.

Vriska finishes eating lunch, and begrudgingly writes in the journal. She reminisces on her past, stating that while she used to be popular ("if you could count being hated by almost everyone you know as being popular"), she now feels like a loser. She admits that she doesn't actually have a problem with eating, but she *does* have a problem with the baby, since it seems like no one cares about her—everything is "for the baby."

Visiting hours open up at 3, and John and Kanaya stop by for a visit with some flowers. John asks Vriska how "[his] little Peanut" is, and Vriska expresses confusion at the statement, since he has a peanut allergy. John explains that he just thought it was a cute nickname, and Vriska confirms they aren't actually going to name it that. John asks when she has her next ultrasound, and she tells him she made sure to schedule it for later in the afternoon the next day so he'd be able to stop by in time. Unfortunately, John has to work until 5, so he asks her for a picture. Vriska then asks Kanaya if everything is okay without her, and Kanaya says she's visited Karkat and Terezi several times. A nurse enters and gives Vriska her afternoon snack, and John asks her how her morning sickness is. It's worse, but if she throws up, the doctor thinks it's on purpose. She just has to gain eight more pounds until she can be released.

### Chapter 8: A Bad Idea?

Two days later, Vriska writes in her journal again. She can't wait to get out of the hospital so she can go back to work and make some money, and really wishes she were in college like Terezi so she could get a better job, but she can't afford college right now.

Around three, Vriska hears a knock on the door and wonders who it is, since John said he wouldn't be stopping by until around five. Karkat and Terezi enter, and they ask Vriska why she's in the hospital. Vriska reveals she's pregnant, and at first they think she's kidding, but she shows them the sonogram photo and they realize she's serious. Neither of them quite know how to react, and Terezi sarcastically wishes her good luck.

Later in the evening, at the Egberts' house, John and his father are arguing over the possibility of John and Vriska buying a house. John emphasizes that he, Vriska, and the new baby can't fit into an apartment, and Mr. Egbert tells John it's his fault he chose to have unprotected sex in the first place. John says that he and Vriska didn't think she'd be able to get pregnant in the first place since they're different species, but Mr. Egbert repeats that using protection is common sense. He then tells John that he won't help him in paying for a house, since John and Vriska make their own money, and since John lied about Karkat and Terezi's relationship to convincce him to give them an allowance so they could get on their feet. Mr. Egbert accuses Vriska of being selfish and not caring about the baby, and John angrily goes upstairs and goes to bed.

In her journal, Vriska expresses frustration about Mr. Egbert not helping her and John pay for a house. She thinks he might be trying to prove to them that raising a baby will be hard, and begins to wonder if staying on Earth was a bad idea.

### Chapter 9: Confession

That Saturday, Vriska finally gets out of the hospital. As they are leaving, John suggests they go out to eat, but Vriska says they can't because they need to save money for the baby. After riding in the car for a bit, she asks if she can come over to his house. John says while he wouldn't mind, his dad would, but he doesn't care and she can come over anyway. Vriska admits she doesn't like Mr. Egbert, since she can tell he doesn't like *her* very much. John tells her he just thinks she's immature, even though she lives fairly independently, and in the heat of the moment Vriska admits she smokes. She promises to throw away every single pack of cigarettes once they get back to her apartment, and John calls his dad to ask if he's made dinner.

At Vriska's apartment, the two go through the apartment and collect every single cigarette carton. Vriska feels awful about it, and John says he'll probably give the cigarettes to his dad. The two then go to John's house for dinner.

While eating dinner, Mr. Egbert tries to make small talk with his son and future daughter-in-law, and John asks if it would be fine if he moved in with Vriska. Mr. Egbert says living on his own is a big responsibility, but John points out that he'd be moving out within a couple of months anyway. His dad then asks when he was planning on moving out, and John says he was planning on taking some stuff over tonight. Mr. Egbert is a little unsure, but ultimately puts his trust in his son.

### Chapter 10: Easter

Terezi and Vriska leave their shifts at Red Dragon the next day. Terezi said she and Karkat would help John move some of his stuff over to Vriska's, but she wants to change out of her work clothes first. As they arrive at the Vantases' house, Terezi complains about the neighbors across the street, who have had a moving truck parked in front of their driveway since the previous day since they're selling the house. Vriska asks how much the house is being sold for, revealing she and John want to buy a house. Terezi parks the car and the two go inside, but the smell of sawdust and wood stain makes Vriska nauseous, and she runs into the bathroom to throw up.

The next Sunday, John wakes up early, waking up Vriska in the process. She asks what he's doing up so early on a weekend, and he tells her that it's Easter, and he was planning on going to church with his dad. Vriska then asks what Easter is, but John says it's kind of hard to explain; she asks how long the church service lasts. Vriska then agrees to come with him and Mr. Egbert, since it would give her something to do. After eating a quick breakfast, getting dressed, and doing her hair and makeup, she and John leave.

They meet Mr. Egbert at the church, and John runs into Cole Freeman. The two briefly chat, and Cole realizes that Vriska is one of Karkat's friends. Cole remarks that his youngest sister Caroline is excited to go to John and Vriska's wedding, since she's been obsessed with weddings since Karkat and Terezi's. He and John say their goodbyes, and John and Vriska go to sit down next to Mr. Egbert.

### Chapter 11: Discussion

The next Saturday, John chases Vriska around their apartment, wanting to see her new driver's license. After he manages to grab it from her, he comments that the picture isn't bad at all, and then asks to take a 16-week pregnancy progress picture. John asks Vriska if she's talked to Kanaya lately, feeling bad that she essentially got kicked out once he moved in, and she says she hasn't but not to feel bad, since Karkat and Terezi suggested she stay with them first. John then puts a lasagna in the oven, and Vriska mentions she's planning on telling her boss about the pregnancy the next week.

On Tuesday, Vriska asks Mrs. Wilson-Lee to speak to her in private, and her boss suggests they talk during her lunch break. Vriska reluctantly agrees, and during the lead-up to the lunch break begins to worry about how Mrs. Wilson-Lee will react. Finally, the two get a chance to talk, and Mrs. Wilson-Lee asks if it's something regarding Vriska's recent hospital stay. Vriska reveals she's pregnant, and to her surprise, Mrs. Wilson-Lee reacts excitedly. Vriska tells her that while everything is fine right now, she may need to get her hours reduced once she's farther along, and Mrs. Wilson-Lee is understanding, as she was working when she had both her kids. She tells Vriska good luck.

### Chapter 12: Twenty

John and Vriska wake up, and she wishes him a happy birthday. She asks if he has any plans for the day, and he tells her his dad wants to do dinner that evening. Vriska then goes to make breakfast while John finishes waking up. While she's preparing breakfast, Vriska reminds herself that she's getting married in ten days, and only has eight days to make any alternations to her wedding dress. She and John would be able to find out what the baby is at the next ultrasound appointment, and while John doesn't have a preference, Vriska thinks she'd be a horrible role model for a little girl and secretly hopes the baby is a boy. She continues to make breakfast, and debates whether or not to make a post on the Tumblr blog John had convinced her to make. John finishes getting ready and grabs breakfast, and after he leaves Vriska begins to prepare herself for the dinner with his dad that evening.

At Outback Steakhouse that evening, Mr. Egbert asks the couple if they have any names picked out yet. Vriska tells him not yet, but they *do* find out what the baby is on Tuesday. Like Vriska, Mr. Egbert secretly wants a grandson, for nearly the same reasons.

That Friday, Vriska anxiously goes to her final wedding dress fitting with Kanaya and Terezi. While putting on the dress, Vriska tells the fitting room attendant the dress feels a little tight, and the attendant tells her the dress hasn't even been zipped up yet, and eventually the zipper won't zip up all the way. Vriska frustratedly exits the dressing room, and Kanaya and Vriska positively react to the dress, but then Vriska reveals it doesn't fit. While the fitting room attendant goes to get the alternations manager, Kanaya begins to wonder if she can make alterations to the dress herself. The alterations manager appears, and before she can go into any details, Kanaya tells her she thinks she can do the alterations. After confirming Kanaya's alteration plans, the alterations manager sends Vriska back to the dressing room so she can get changed and the attendant can prepare the dress to be taken home.

### Chapter 13: It's a...House?

John and Vriska are on their way to an appointment with a realtor, and Vriska complains they won't be able to find anything in their price range. They meet the realtor, Marisa Yanez, at the first house, and she shows them around. The primary bedroom is a nice size, but there is no primary bath; all the bedrooms share a single full bath. There is also no study or office space, so John and Vriska cross the first house off their list. They pick something up to eat for lunch, and meet Marisa at the second house.

The second house is much better, as it feels much roomier and has two upstairs bathrooms. It also doesn't need to be as updated as the first one. John and Vriska agree that this house seems like a possibility, and the three travel to the third house.

The third house is very unimpressive, so they don't spend much time there at all. Finally, Marisa takes the couple to the fourth house, and John realizes it is across the street from Karkat and Terezi's house. Upon entering, they're really impressed—the layout is nice and not awkwardly divided, there's a basement, there are three bedrooms, and it has an office space. The only downside is that there isn't a dedicated dining room, only a dining nook in the kitchen, but John and Vriska don't care. They quickly decide that this house is the one.

However, there are already several offers on the house, so John and Vriska have to place a higher offer than they had expected. John isn't sure about going out of their price range, but Vriska really thinks it would be a good house for their small family, so they place an offer.

As they're getting ready for bed, Vriska is caught off-guard by something and suddenly stops. John thinks something is wrong, but Vriska tells him she felt something weird, almost like butterflies. John realizes what she's talking about, and tells her that's just the baby moving.

Two days later, Vriska and John are at her doctor's appointment, and this time they might be able to find out the baby's sex. After being taken back to an exam room, the doctor, Dr. Browne, asks Vriska if she's felt the baby move yet, gives her advice regarding their upcoming honeymoon trip, and asks how her morning sickness has been. John eagerly asks if they'll be able to find out the sex, and Dr. Browne tells him there's a possibility, but it ultimately depends on the position of the baby as well as the timing of the appointment. She gives Vriska her 18-week ultrasound, and announces to the couple that the baby is in the perfect position to see the sex.

### Chapter 14: You May Now Kiss the Bride

The night before their wedding, John drops Vriska off at Karkat and Terezi's house and gives her a goodbye kiss before heading back to the apartment with Karkat and Dave for a miniature bachelor party. Vriska, Terezi, and Kanaya are planning on a similar night, with Vriska trying on her wedding dress to see if any more last-minute alterations need to be made as well as Terezi giving her the rundown of the wedding ceremony.

The next morning, Terezi wakes Vriska up and tells her she's going to be late if she doesn't get up that second. Terezi begins to make pancakes for the three, and as Vriska gets dressed, she broods over her necessary impending maternity clothing purchase. They quickly eat breakfast and gather their things before heading over to the church the wedding is at.

It is now only fifteen minutes before the ceremony is set to begin, and Vriska is in the bathroom throwing up. After cleaning up, she hurries back into the bride's room and quickly puts on the dress. Terezi reminds her she now only has five minutes, and Vriska frantically finishes fixing her hair. The ceremony is scheduled to start in a minute, and Vriska and her bridesmaids frantically run to the sanctuary.

Aside from beginning five minutes late, the ceremony goes off without a hitch, and John and Vriska share their first kiss as husband and wife.

### Chapter 15: It's All in the Cake/And We're Off!

The wedding reception begins, and John and Vriska cut a pizza instead of a cake since John doesn't like sweets. Mr. Egbert still made a cake for the guests, however. As the newlyweds eat their pizza and Vriska her cake, Terezi pulls Vriska aside and asks why the cake is strawberry, since the wedding color is blue. Vriska tells her that they picked strawberry because it's pink, and it's pink because the baby is a girl. John and Vriska finish talking to the wedding guests, and Vriska accidentally bumps into Nepeta. She's surprised that the other troll actually came, but Nepeta reminds her that they lived together for the several months leading up to Karkat and Terezi's wedding. Equius also came, but he's sitting at the table.

The rest of the reception goes very smoothly, and afterwards they excitedly arrive back to the apartment. However, the newlyweds can't relax, as they have to finish packing for their honeymoon.

The next morning, John and Vriska arrive at the airport, anxiously awaiting their flight to Chicago.

### Chapter 16: Adventures in the Windy City – Part 1

Vriska and John try to watch *National Treasure* on the plane ride, but she has to constantly get up to use the restroom.

Later that day, the couple finally checks into their hotel room. While John unpacks, Vriska steps onto the balcony and watches the people on the sidewalk many stories below her.

The two eat dinner at a pizza restaurant, and Vriska asks John if he's thought of any names for the baby. He pulls up a list on his phone—Grace, Sophia, Victoria—, but Vriska shoots all of them down, except for maybe Victoria as a middle name. John then suggests they finish discussing it when they're back at the hotel.

After dinner, they go to a maternity shop, and Vriska complains about how ugly and/or expensive all the clothes are. John suggests they go to Target, but Vriska points out they don't have a car, so he then suggests they go back to the hotel and she can just find some clothes at home. However, Vriska *insists* she is going to leave the shop with something.

They finally return to the hotel later that night, and as they're lying in bed Vriska bemoans still not having a name for the baby. John points out they still have time to decide, but he mentions he's always liked the name Casey. Vriska says it sounds a bit boyish, and suggests it be short for something instead, such as Cassidy. John says no to that, so then Vriska suggests Cassandra. John says that would usually be shortened to Cassie, but Vriska points out it wouldn't necessarily be shortened to that. Immediately after, John sits up, exclaiming he has it: Cassia. Vriska immediately takes a liking to the name, even more so when she realizes it has six letters. John asks about a middle name, but she says they can think about that later. The newlyweds go to sleep, excited for the next day.

### Chapter 17: Adventures in the Windy City – Part 2

John and Vriska are at Olive Garden for lunch, and she asks him if he's talked to his dad since they started their honeymoon. She can't wait to tell him about Casey, but John suggests they wait until they're back to tell him, since it'll be more fun in person. Vriska can't wait for the day's events, but John won't tell her—it's a surprise.

After lunch, the two go to Millennium Park, and Vriska asks if John's dad might have any suggestions for a middle name. John doesn't know if he has any, but mentions that when his mother was pregnant with him, she waited to find out his sex until he was born, so she picked out names for both a boy and a girl; if she were still alive, she probably would have remembered. Vriska then asks him what having an actual mother was like. He reminisces on his brief time with his mother, but their reflecting is cut short when Vriska gets the overwhelming urge to throw up. She rushes over to a trash can and thankfully makes it in time, but still doesn't feel well and needs to lay down.

Back at the hotel, Vriska rests while John is in the bathroom, talking to his dad on the phone.

Eventually, Vriska feels better, so before dinner she and John head to Navy Pier to spend their evening. First, they do a boat tour, and after they board the boat and are waiting for the tour to begin, John receives a call from Marisa. Vriska asks him what she wanted, and John happily announces their offer on the house was accepted. The two briefly celebrate before the tour begins.

After dinner, John and Vriska go for a ride on the Ferris wheel. Vriska asks what they're doing tomorrow, and remarks that she's never eating at Olive Garden again.

### Chapter 18: An Announcement

On Wednesday evening, John and Vriska arrive back at the airport. Mr. Egbert picks them up, and on the car ride back he asks how the trip was. John tells him they got the house, and Vriska excitedly announces they are naming the baby Cassia, Casey for short. Mr. Egbert asks John why he's naming his daughter after his middle school pet salamander, but John tells him "Cassia" is six letters, as is Alternian tradition.

On Saturday, John tells Vriska that Karkat and Terezi invited them over; rather, it was Kanaya's idea to invite them over to Karkat and Terezi's house. As Vriska enters their house, the smell of fresh paint is nauseating, so she requests they eat dinner outside. John points out that their house is going to smell like that once they move in, but Vriska brushes him off. The group heads to the back porch to eat pizza, and Kanaya announces that she has decided to stay on Earth. She's applied for a job at a local boutique, and once Rose finishes her degree in May she and Kanaya will move together into the Seattle condo Ms. Lalonde owns.

### Chapter 19: Almost-Mother's Day

Vriska wakes up, and John wishes her a happy Mother's Day before announcing he got her something. He brings her a card that says "Happy almost Mother's Day" on the front, and surprises her with a new iPhone.

The two go out for lunch, but before they get to the restaurant John asks if they can stop somewhere. They drive to the cemetery, and John takes Vriska to a tombstone situated under a tree. The tombstone reveals his mother's name was Margaret, but he tells Vriska everyone called her Maggie, and she died of breast cancer. Vriska asks if they could consider Margaret for Casey's middle name, and John agrees.

That evening, Vriska calls Terezi to tell her about her day. After Vriska hangs up, Terezi complains to Karkat and says it's not fair. He reassures her, revealing they suffered a miscarriage. What happened is already in the past, and they don't have the financial means to raise children at the moment. The two share a brief moment, and Karkat suggests that maybe they'll have a proper Mother's Day the next year.

### Chapter 20: A Talk

Terezi and Vriska banter at work, but Mrs. Wilson-Lee get onto them for slacking off.

That evening, Karkat notices Terezi hasn't been herself, and asks her what's wrong. Terezi not only expresses frustration about her past miscarriage, but also about how happy Vriska has seemed lately. Karkat suggests inviting her and John over for dinner that weekend so they can talk about it.

On Friday, Karkat makes dinner while awaiting John and Vriska's arrival. While cooking, he thinks about the possibility of parenthood: while he promised Terezi they would try again, he isn't sure if he will be a good father, nor is he sure if they'll be able to afford it. Terezi finishes changing out of her work clothes and John and Vriska arrive. Vriska is acting almost erratically, enveloping Terezi in a tight hug and telling her (again) they're naming the baby Cassia. Vriska also (possibly unintentionally) puts Karkat and Terezi down, asking them when they'll replace their folding table and chairs with an "actual" dining set. Karkat shifts the conversation to ask about the Egberts' new house, and John says they're signing the contract on Tuesday.

John then asks the Vantases when they'll have kids. Terezi is caught off guard, even though the whole reason why they planned the dinner in the first place was to tell Vriska parenthood was still a sensitive issue for them. She tells them she miscarried two grubs last August, and John is embarrassed he pressed the issue. Vriska, however, is interested in the concept of natural troll reproduction, and Terezi explains she actually had no idea until the miscarriage, thinking she had just gained weight and was having really bad stomach cramps. Vriska starts crying in a hormonal fit, and Terezi says she and Karkat plan on having a child in the future.

### Chapter 21: Moving In

John and Vriska arrive at their new house, now empty and a blank canvas for everything they own. Karkat and Terezi arrive, and everyone begins to bring in stuff from their car.

Mr. Egbert soon arrives with furniture he picked up from IKEA. Not everything they ordered was ready, but at the very least the bed and couch were available. Vriska, Terezi, and Karkat unpack some boxes while John and his dad are putting together the bed upstairs.

On Monday, Vriska has another session with Mary, the counselor. Vriska gives her a run-down of what has happened since their last meeting, and they prepare for the day's session.

### Chapter 22: Vriska's Chapter

A week later, John wakes up for class, and Vriska makes him coffee while he takes a shower and gets ready. After he leaves, Vriska watches TV for a bit and makes her 27-week blog entry.

At Red Dragon later that morning, Vriska meets a new co-worker, and Mrs. Wilson-Lee asks Vriska if she needs her hours to be updated. Vriska tells her not yet; maybe in a month or so.

Vriska finishes work around 2, and eats a quick lunch before heading to Target to do some shopping. She isn't keen on the idea of a baby shower, and instead wants to buy everything for Casey herself. While looking for some maternity shorts, she can't find any she thinks are cute, but she does find some jeans and decides to just make cutoffs. Another shopper overhears her, and tells her there's a maternity shop downtown that sells affordable and cute clothes. The lady introduces herself as Jennifer, and she and Vriska briefly bond over becoming mothers at a younger age—Jennifer was twenty when she had her first child.

### Chapter 23: John's Chapter

John quickly grabs a bagel from Einstein Bros. before heading to class. He ends up arriving to class late and is called out by the professor, and some old high school bullies taunt him as he takes a seat.

After his classes, John grabs McDonald's for lunch, and the bullies from earlier return. They tease him about being gay, so he reminds them he's married to a woman, and he ends up frustratedly showing them his wedding photos. One of the guys comments on how hot Vriska is, and the other scolds him before they run off.

John heads to his afternoon job and complains to his supervisor, Mike, about the bullies. Mike is sympathetic, as he was bullied a lot when he was younger, but he tells John there's a lot of data that needs to be input.

That evening, John returns home, and Vriska greets them. The two talk about their days, and John is relieved Vriska's day was better than his.

### Chapter 24: Father's Day/At the Lake

On the morning of Father's Day, Vriska surprises John with a gift. He opens it and pulls out a tie, and Vriska remarks that she thought it was a very "father-ish" thing to give. She also gives him another present—Casey is now large (and strong) enough for him to be able to feel her kick.

That evening, Karkat asks Terezi what's on her mind, and Terezi expresses sadness about what feels like everyone around her having children, but not her. Karkat tells her he can tell it's been upsetting her, and says he thinks they're finally ready to try again.

That Saturday, John, Vriska, Karkat, and Terezi go for an outing at Pipe Lake. John wishes Karkat and Terezi a happy anniversary while Vriska ties an inner tube to the dock so she doesn't float away while sitting in it. Karkat quietly tells John he and Terezi are trying for a child, and John begins to feel kind of bad since he feels like he and Vriska are the only reason why. Rose and Kanaya show up, having stopped at the store to pick up some food for the occasion.

This entire time, Terezi has been sitting in a chair reading a book for class, and really doesn't like all the attention Vriska has been getting. Suddenly, Vriska begins to feel Casey kick, and Kanaya and Rose both come over to feel. Vriska asks Terezi if she wants to feel too, and Terezi becomes overwhelmed and goes into the boathouse to get away from everyone. Vriska follows her, asking if she's alright, and Terezi expresses frustration at how happy Vriska has seemed since getting pregnant. Vriska tells her it's not always great, and Terezi reveals she took a pregnancy test earlier that morning that came out negative. Vriska tells her everything will be okay and she'll have kids when it's her time, and Karkat comes into the boathouse to check on her.

### Chapter 25: The Baby Shower

Terezi and Vriska head home from work, and Vriska asks if she can change out of her work clothes before heading over to Terezi's house. Terezi begrudgingly agrees. Vriska changes, and as they arrive, she complains about being tired, but when she enters the house she is met with a surprise baby shower held by her female coworkers and Kanaya and Rose. They begin to snack on food in the kitchen, and one of her coworkers asked if they've picked out a name yet. Vriska answers Cassia, but she and John are still torn between Margaret and Jane for a middle name.

After eating, Ana excitedly announces it's time to open the gifts. Vriska receives baby gifts all across the board, from clothes to books to bottles to baby wipes, not to mention many packs of diapers. From Rose and Kanaya, Vriska receives a knitted baby blanket made by Rose. Terezi hears the front door begin to unlock, and she goes to see who it is; Karkat comes in and sneaks into the basement while John enters with a wrapped package. She takes it from him and unwraps a professional-looking copy of Mindfang's journal. John mentions that since Vriska liked it so much, Casey might too, and Vriska remarks that maybe she will when she's *much* older.

### Chapter 26: Oops-a-Daisy

It's Vriska's last day of work until Casey is born, and she is having a conversation with Ana while business is slow. She mentions she has childbirth class that night.

Vriska's shift is finally over, and all her coworkers hug her and wish her well before she leaves. While she doesn't really care for a lot of her coworkers, she still wants to be nice. Mrs. Wilson-Lee gives her congratulations, and Vriska leaves.

Later that afternoon, John and Vriska rush to childbirth class, as John is afraid of being late and making a bad first impression. They arrive and check in, and begin talking to the other couples. The time for the class to begin arrives, but one couple is still missing; however, they arrive at the last second.

After the class is over, everyone socializes again. Vriska finds out Jennifer, the woman in the last couple, is the same woman she talked to at Target a few weeks back, and her husband and John hit it off instantly too. Another, older woman in the class approaches Vriska and asks how old she is. Vriska responds nineteen, and the woman's husband says to himself that she's throwing her life away. She chides him, but Vriska is already upset and begins crying. Vriska tells the couple off, and after they leave, Jennifer comforts her. Once Vriska feels better, she and Jennifer exchange numbers before heading home.

Once Vriska and John are in the car, Vriska quietly says that maybe the rude couple were right and they *are* throwing their lives away. John says he doesn't think so, even though they could have waited a few more years before having a baby. As Vriska is still upset, she misunderstands this remark as him not wanting Casey. He tells her to stop jumping to conclusions, to which she overreacts again. John tells her that he isn't sure if it's just the hormones, but sometimes she says things that makes him feel bad; she responds that if he thinks she overreacts all the time, she doesn't know why he even wanted to marry her. The two spend the rest of the car ride in complete silence, and once they arrive home, Vriska goes straight to bed. John wants to apologize, but he isn't sure if Vriska is in the right headspace to accept or even hear the apology, so he doesn't want to push the issue. Instead, he calls his dad, and tells him he's coming over to spend the night.

### Chapter 27: Apologies Accepted

At Mr. Egbert's house, he asks John what happened. John tells him what happened at the class, and how that set Vriska off and she started overreacting. Mr. Egbert is surprisingly understanding, as he said John's mother was an entirely different person when she was pregnant. He then suggests John wait it out a bit so Vriska can calm down, and to apologize in person rather than over text or phone call. John wonders aloud if she'll even accept the apology, and Mr. Egbert jokes that maybe *John* is the one who's overreacting.

Later that night, Vriska is nervously pacing around the house, debating whether or not she should call John to apologize. She sits down on the couch and talks to Casey, who kicks in response.

In the middle of the night, John writes a note to his dad and tapes it to the fridge before heading back to his house. He enters the house, and finds Vriska wielding some sort of weapon in self-defense, but she drops it when she realizes it's just John. She hugs him and he apologizes for overreacting, and in turn she apologizes for overreacting as well. He then asks why she was awake in the first place, and she tells him neither she nor Casey could sleep. John and Vriska then go upstairs and have sex.

Two weeks later, Vriska texts Terezi and asks if she wants to go to the store with her and Mr. Egbert to pick up Casey's crib and some other things, since Vriska still isn't sure about spending time with her father-in-law alone. Terezi agrees, and when she arrives at the Egberts' house, she comments on how big Vriska has gotten. Vriska is slightly offended, but pivots the conversation to Terezi and Karkat's parenthood journey. Terezi tells her that she hasn't taken a test yet, but she doesn't really feel any different. Mr. Egbert arrives, and the three get in his car and drive over to Babies-R-Us. After parking and heading towards the entrance, he asks Terezi if she and Karkat plan on having kids, and she tells him they want to, but things haven't worked out yet. Vriska goes to guest services to pick up the crib, and an employee takes it out to the car.

After they get back, Terezi heads back to her house to get ready for work, leaving Vriska and Mr. Egbert to put the crib together by themselves. Before they get started, Mr. Egbert apologizes to Vriska for doubting her maturity, and tells her he's impressed with how she's handled everything and that he's proud of her. She's confused, as they aren't related, but Mr. Egbert replies he's never seen John happier and she's been a wonderful wife to him. They hug, and then proceed to put the crib together.

### Chapter 28: Maggie

John and Vriska go to Mr. Egbert's house for dinner. He's made hamburgers, with a lemon cake for dessert. As they chat and eat, Mr. Egbert asks what they've been doing lately, and John tells him they've been baby-proofing everything. Casey's due date is in a month, and they're running out of time to get everything situated.

The cake is finished, and Vriska picks a vanilla frosting to put on the top. Mr. Egbert offers his son a slice, but John declines as usual. Wondering why he always passes up sweets, Mr. Egbert asks John why he doesn't want the cake, and he explains it reminds him too much of his mom. Mr. Egbert begins to get upset, and tells John there's so much more to his mother's death than he realizes.

In a flashback, five-year-old John wants 33-year-old Maggie to play cars with him, but she tells him later as she has to make dinner. She goes downstairs and talks to 34-year-old Mr. Egbert, announcing she's pregnant. The couple agree to wait to tell John when she's further along so he doesn't ask too many questions. Later on, the couple are at a doctor's appointment, and the doctor reveals to Maggie that she has breast cancer.

Back in the present, John expresses disbelief at his mother finding out she had cancer while she was pregnant. Mr. Egbert explains that she went through cancer treatment during the pregnancy, but despite the treatment, it was aggressive and only got worse. The doctors were afraid it would spread to the baby, so they performed an emergency caesarean section at five months of gestation. The baby, whom they named Matthew, only lived for two days, and Maggie passed away three days later.

Vriska is no longer hungry, and Mr. Egbert tells John he's sorry he had to grow up without a mother. Suddenly, the doorbell rings, and Mr. Egbert goes to answer it. To John's surprise, his maternal grandparents come inside, having returned from their year-long world tour. Peggy, his grandmother, is ecstatic her grandson has a girlfriend, to which John tells her Vriska is actually his wife. Vriska stands up to greet the couple, revealing the pregnancy, and Bob, John's grandfather, asks if the baby is a boy or a girl. Peggy hushes him, as she wants it to be a surprise, just like how it was when she was younger and pregnant. Vriska is surprised that there was even a time when a baby's sex wasn't revealed until they were born, and John realizes her remark reveals too much about her past and lack of knowledge of human culture and history. He blurts out her personal history, with Vriska adding in details every so often. Bob and Peggy are shocked, as is expected, but still take the news surprisingly well, and ask the young couple how they even met in the first place. Vriska tells a very quick, abridged story of Karkat and Terezi's journey to Earth and their subsequent wedding.

### Chapter 29: Heeeeeeeey Tavroooooooos!!!!!!!!

Two weeks later, John prepares to go to class, and before he leaves he tells Vriska to *please* let him know if she goes into labor while he's gone.

Almost four hours later, Vriska actually gets up, and she realizes how bored she's been the past week. She goes downstairs and gets on her laptop, and decides to talk to Tavros. She asks if he wants to come over for a visit, and he agrees. After ending the conversation, she realizes he doesn't know about Casey, and she isn't sure how she is going to explain it. He arrives, and immediately asks her why she's so big. Vriska explains that she and John "pailed" without using a pail, and they ended up with a baby, which is like a human grub. She complains about how difficult pregnancy is at such a late stage, especially since Casey kicks a lot, and Tavros asks if he can feel. After Vriska tells him she and John are naming the baby Casey, the conversation becomes awkward, at least until Tavros mentions he and Gamzee are now matesprits, and Tavros was actually the one who made the first move. Vriska cautions him against unprotected sex, since that's how she got pregnant in the first place, and Tavros remarks that he thought she knew better than that. He also wonders why she's even being nice to him in the first place, to which she responds that she's going to be the "best mom" and needs to play the part.

Afterwards, Tavros helps Vriska fold some laundry, and he insists he do it all until he grabs a pair of Vriska's underwear. Despite this mishap, the two successfully fold all the laundry, and Vriska mentions she's hungry. Tavros offers to make something for her, but she insists on picking up McDonald's, to which he tells her he'll go do it. She points out he doesn't have a car, so he insists on walking, but ultimately Vriska wins and the two hop into her car to grab lunch.

Vriska blasts music during the car ride to McDonald's, and they go through the drive-thru. Vriska starts to eat as she drives off, but realizes what she bit into was *not* what she ordered, so she parks the car and heads inside to exchange the chicken sandwich for a cheeseburger. The employee she speaks to insists she can't get a replacement or a refund since she already took a bite, and although the manager offers her a coupon, Vriska angrily storms out. After arriving home, Tavros volunteers to leave, and after he leaves Vriska sits on the couch and cries.

That evening, John gets home and fines Vriska asleep on the couch. She says she doesn't feel good, but it's not Casey, she just had a rough day. John suggests they watch a movie to make her feel better.

### Chapter 30: Labor Pains

It is now Casey's due date, and Vriska has still not gone into labor. To help pass the time (and since they aren't sure when they'll be able to do it again once Casey arrives), she and John invite their friends over for a small get-together. Vriska is busy cleaning the house and "nesting" when Dave, Jade, Karkat, Terezi, Rose, and Kanaya arrive. Everyone hangs out in the living room, chatting, and Vriska mentions she's irritated Casey still hasn't come yet, since most babies are born a little before their due date. Rose asks why she hasn't asked to be induced, but Vriska insists she isn't doing anything that could hurt Casey. As she's feeling uncomfortable, Vriska decides to head upstairs to lay down, and John continues hanging out with his friends.

After everyone leaves, John decides to save the cleaning for tomorrow and crashes upstairs. Around eleven, Vriska wakes up, and she's irritated to discover the aching in her lower back hasn't gotten any better since laying down. Suddenly, she feels a sharp pain in her stomach while the back pain intensifies, and she quickly wakes John up. He mumbles in his half-asleep state and ignores her, but when she tells him she's in labor he immediately wakes up. The two get dressed and head to the hospital.

Vriska gets checked in at the hospital, and a nurse tells her she's already dilated three centimeters. The nurse then says she'll be back in about an hour to check on her again, and give her an epidural if she's ready for it. After the nurse leaves, Vriska tells John she's going to try to sleep, since she knows she won't tomorrow, and John says he will too once he finishes emailing his professors and boss.

Early the next morning, Vriska finally gets the epidural, and she and John quietly chat while she half-watches the muted TV in the room. A few hours later, she eats a light breakfast. The doctor had come in and told her she's been in labor for around twelve hours, but at this point her water still hasn't broken and the contractions aren't getting any worse.

That afternoon, Vriska begs John to get the nurse, and once she comes in she tells Vriska she's almost ten centimeters dilated and should be able to push within the next hour. After the nurse leaves, Vriska expresses her anxiety about being a mother to John, saying she doesn't want Casey to grow up to be like her. John reassures her, saying she's a strong, independent person, and they're going to be the best parents ever.

Soon after, they call Dr. Browne in to begin the delivery process. After several painful, strong pushes, Casey is finally born, but upon entering the world, does not immediately cry. Vriska is afraid something has gone wrong, but to her relief, Casey begins to cry. Dr. Browne holds up Casey for Vriska to see, and Vriska begins to cry; John also cries tears of joy as he cuts the umbilical cord. A nurse takes Casey to clean her off, but soon calls Dr. Browne over. After a moment, Dr. Browne sadly announces to the couple that Casey is having trouble breathing and needs to be taken to the NICU.

### Chapter 31: Meet Casey

John sends a text to his dad, grandparents, and friends informing them that Casey has been born but isn't doing well. Vriska is extremely upset and is blaming herself for Casey's breathing problems, and while she's crying, John goes to answer the door and talk to his family. Peggy asked what happened, and John tells them that Casey is having trouble breathing, which is rare for being born at full term. Finally, the pediatrician returns, and John follows him back into the room.

The pediatrician tells the new parents that Casey aspirated some amniotic fluid due to TTN, and while she needs supplemental oxygen to help her start out, she should recover within a few days. Before he leaves, he tells them he'll grab a nurse so they can go visit Casey in the NICU. Several minutes later, a nurse comes in with a wheelchair to take Vriska down to the NICU, and Vriska and John finally get to properly meet Casey. The nurse helps Vriska hold Casey for the first time, and she and John admire Casey in awe. After a few minutes, the nurse informs the couple that Casey has gotten well enough to be taken off oxygen, and can go back into a room with her parents.

As John and Vriska are savoring their time with their new daughter, Mr. Egbert, Bob, and Peggy finally come for a visit. Mr. Egbert gets to hold Casey, and he and Peggy comment on how beautiful Casey is. Even though Vriska is exhausted, she forces herself to stay awake and savor the moment.

A couple of hours later, Rose and Kanaya stop by with a balloon and a gift. Vriska lets Kanaya hold Casey, and the two trolls briefly reminisce on the time when Vriska told Kanaya she was pregnant. Rose asks if Casey is alright, and Vriska tells her that she had some difficulties breathing, and they'll have to stay a few more days to make sure she's okay to go home. She then gives Vriska a gift for Casey, and Vriska opens it to find a blue shirt with a white butterfly on it and a pair of brown shorts.

That evening, Karkat and Terezi come for a surprise visit. Terezi gets to hold Casey, and Karkat comments that he was expecting Casey to look more like a troll than a human. Terezi, however, says Casey looks like Vriska, and maybe she'll grow up to be like Vriska, too. Vriska replies that Casey will "wait to get married and have kids *after* she grows up."

### Chapter 32: Keeping Up

Today is John's first day back at his classes and work since Casey was born, and Vriska is left at home to take care of Casey on her own. Casey won't stop crying so Vriska calls John in a panic, and he suggests putting her to sleep before they say their goodbyes. Vriska attempts to breast feed Casey again, but the baby isn't hungry, so she takes her upstairs to hopefully follow through with John's suggestion. Thankfully, Vriska is able to successfully put Casey down for a nap, and afterwards she crashes onto her bed for her own nap. Casey soon wakes up crying again, but this time Vriska quickly realizes she just needs a diaper change. After changing her diaper, Vriska takes Casey downstairs with her to watch some TV, and the two fall asleep on the couch, Casey resting on Vriska's chest. That evening, John gets home, and finds his wife and daughter asleep on the couch. Vriska wakes up to greet him, and although she's exhausted, she wouldn't trade it for anything.

At the end of October, Vriska takes Casey to the pediatrician for her one-month checkup. A lady in the waiting room comments on how adorable Casey is, and soon, a nurse calls Casey and Vriska to an exam room. Casey doesn't take well to the unfamiliar surroundings, but the nurse is successfully able to measure and weigh the infant. Finally, the pediatrician comes into the exam room for the appointment.

### Chapter 33: A "Happy" Thanksgiving

Vriska finishes meeting Jennifer, who just had her own baby, for dinner, and heads home. Upon arriving home, she finds John already made dinner, and she apologizes for forgetting to tell him about her dinner plans. While John goes to put Casey in her cradle, Mr. Egbert calls, and Vriska answers the phone. She tells John his dad wanted to know if they wanted to do Thanksgiving at his grandparents' house this year. John isn't sure, since he doesn't want to be seen as a disappointment in the eyes of his other family, but eventually agrees.

On Thanksgiving, John's grandparents and extended family are waiting for him, Vriska, Casey, and Mr. Egbert to arrive. John's Aunt Joanna overhears Peggy mention he has a daughter, and expresses her shock at him having a child so young despite Peggy having Maggie when she was nineteen. Finally, the Egberts arrive, and John's family is shocked upon seeing Vriska, but for the most part greet her warmly and introduce themselves.

At the Vantases' house, Karkat and Terezi are discussing parenthood yet again, and Terezi worries they won't be able to have biological children. Karkat tells her they can't do anything about it except maybe adopt, but Terezi responds they can't explain they aren't human to human children, and it would be expensive anyway. She wonders why they're even celebrating Thanksgiving if they don't have anything to be thankful for, but Karkat reminds her they have lots of things to be thankful for, and they don't have to have kids to be happy.

Back at the Evans–Egberts' Thanksgiving dinner, Aunt Joanna asks the younger Egberts how they met. John hesitantly tells her he and Vriska met online, and Vriska senses the tension and steps away to change Casey's diaper. While she's away, Joanna pulls John aside to give him a talk. She tells him she feels he's changed in a bad way, and she doesn't think Vriska is a good influence on him. John tells her to stop judging him and his new family.

During the car ride home, Vriska tells John and Mr. Egbert she didn't think the Evans family liked her very much. Mr. Egbert tells her not to worry about it, since Joanna didn't like him when he married Maggie. After Mr. Egbert drops them off, John apologizes about his family, but encourages Vriska to look towards the future and Christmas.

### Chapter 34: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Vriska arrives home from her first day back at work since Casey was born, and can't find John or Casey anywhere. She finally just decides to go upstairs and change, and finds John in the main bedroom, changing Casey's diaper on top of Vriska's shirts. He says he panicked, and Vriska laughs before getting changed. The small family then head to Mr. Egbert's house to drop Casey off for the evening.

Vriska and John go to a Mexican restaurant for dinner, and Vriska worries about how Casey is doing. John reassures her, reminding her that his dad successfully raised him, so he'll do fine watching her for a few hours. Vriska wants to know what else they're doing on their date night, but John tells her it's a surprise.

In the car after dinner, Vriska still wonders where they're going, but John reiterates it's a surprise before pulling into a parking space downtown. They get out of the car, and John leads his wife to an ice skating rink set up in the park.

Karkat and Terezi are decorating for the holidays, and Terezi is very indecisive on where the Christmas tree should go. Karkat is getting irritated with her, but she finally agrees on a spot, and the two get ready for their long-awaited movie night.

John and Vriska try their hands (feet?) at ice skating, and Vriska is eventually able to get a decent hang of it. After skating for a bit, she stops to use the bathroom and to massage her feet. After she finishes in the bathroom, she exits, only to find John speaking to another woman, who is very obviously flirting with him. He calls Vriska over, and introduces him to one of his classmates from high school. They say their goodbyes, and in the car, Vriska is still bothered by the interaction. John explains that he hated his classmate in high school and doesn't even know why she wanted to talk to him in the first place. They hurry to pick up Casey and get home, as it's started snowing.

On Christmas Eve, the Egberts return home from a church service, which Casey cried all throughout. John suggests they take a bath, and he'll put Casey to sleep while Vriska gets the tub ready. Before going upstairs, Vriska makes some hot chocolate.

She sits in the tub with her hot chocolate and waits for John to join her, but Casey had just started crying so he's dealing with that. He finally gets her to calm down, and immediately joins his wife in the bathtub. Vriska worries they haven't gotten Casey enough Christmas presents, but John reminds her she's just a baby and won't remember it.

The next morning, Mr. Egbert arrives at their house with presents. Casey is in the living room feeding Vriska, and John tells his dad there's a roast in the Crockpot for lunch. Soon after, everyone gathers in the living room to open presents. Mr. Egbert gives Casey a small teddy bear, and John gives Vriska a necklace inscribed with the words *I will always love you*.

### Chapter 35: Epilogue

A month later, Vriska and John are preparing for Karkat and Terezi to come over for dinner. Casey is now four months old, and is doing great. The Vantases finally arrive, and they go sit down at the table while Vriska grabs John and Casey from the living room. They eat and chat, and John asks Terezi how her internship is going. He notices she's eating a lot more than she usually would, but he brushes it off and they continue to talk. Casey starts to fuss, and while Vriska tends to her, Terezi asks question after question related to the baby's schedule and normal habits. Karkat tells her to calm down, and John makes a joke about how much Terezi is eating and how many questions she's asking. Terezi and Karkat glance at each other, and Terezi announces they're expecting a grub.

## Character Appearances

All characters are listed in alphabetical order, by surname. Main characters' names are bolded.

* Casey Egbert
* **John Egbert**
* Joseph Egbert
* Maggie Egbert *(flashback)*
* Bob & Peggy Evans
* Evans family
* Cole Freeman
* Jade Harley
* Rose Lalonde
* Nepeta Leijon
* Kanaya Maryam
* Anastasia Parker
* Joanna Petersen
* **Vriska Serket**
* Dave Strider
* **Karkat Vantas**
* **Terezi Vantas**
* Andrea Wilson-Lee
* Equius Zahhak