Chapter 4: No More Time to Lose

The first day I sent my baby girl to school was so hard for me. All I could remember was all the time we spent at home, just the two of us. Now her world was going to expand and I wasn't going to be the only thing she needed. It was hard for me to let go, but it was easier knowing I had Malachi with me. 

It did start getting me worried about what would happen with Malachi went into his school aged years, so I took up Neve's advice and looked up a website called, babychallenge.com to see if there were any women out there willing to participate in my challenge. To my luck there were a few, though I wasn't so sure about meeting women this way. I figured I would have to find a better way this time, but for now, I had a date with a new woman later in the week. 

I spent most of my time with Malachi, teaching him all he needed to know. I realized pretty quick he was a chunkier baby than Nadeen ever was. I wondered if it was just because he was a boy, or if he was going to have problems with weight. I hoped for the best and just reminded myself how lucky I was to have a healthy baby. 

When Nadeen would get back from school I couldn't believe how hard it was to get her to do her homework. I would go up to her room to see her working away at her chemistry table and then scold her for not doing her homework. She would grumble, take off her lab coat and start doing it. "What's the point if I can't do it in time?" I heard her say one time....though I don't know if she was talking to me. 

That Friday when Nadeen was already at school I took Malachi with me to the dog park where I told my potential new baby momma we would meet. I was nervous. All I could picture was someone with as many problems as Rian had. What if she only did this because she wanted a place to stay like Kiva? It made me worried that all potential mothers would be like this. 

When I saw her though my heart melted. She had the most beautiful red hair I had ever seen. Her jade eyes were almost glowing they were so bright. Right off the bat I could see a certain caring look on her face that I had yet to see in one of my baby mommas. 

"Umm...hey. You must be Liza." I held out my had. She laughed and went in for a hug. 

"And you must be Harvy." she told me. She smiled and looked down at Malachi. "Oh, is this the newest addition?"

"Yes, this is baby number two, Malachi." I told her. 

She smiled and shook Malachi's tiny hand, making him giggle. "Second huh? Well aren't you a newbie!" 

I laughed and blushed. "Guess you have to start somewhere right?" 

Liza and I hit it off immediately. Even before we left we were holding hands and snuggling. She told me that she rarely uses the website for the baby challenges she participates in, but once in a while she gets lucky. When I asked her what she meant by lucky she smiled and said, "Well obviously some guys just use that site for an easy...umm....lay, I guess." I was shocked that anyone would be that cruel and it bothered me that Liza had been a victim of that. I was happy she was going to be with me for the next few months. 

When we got home we got straight down to business and it was the first time that wasn't awkward. It was one of the best memories I have, because there was something more there than just getting the "job' done. There was passion. 

**Nadeen's POV**

Honestly, how hard can it be to get a stupid potion to work? I had been trying to months...maybe even a year by now to get something that would keep Lola in my life. Since that night Lola told me there was a was to change her into a real person I couldn't not try and get her what she wanted. She was everything to me. Every night I would have nightmares about losing her forever. Every morning I would wake up earlier than I should and work...until dad would come and make me go to school. Ugh! Couldn't he see I was too busy for stupid stuff like school? 

"Nadeen...can we talk?" Lola asked. 

"I'm busy Lola, can it wait?" I asked. 

She sighed. "Maybe...maybe it would be better if we just came to the realization that this isn't going to happen and just stop." Lola told me. 

I froze. 

"I mean...look at you. You're not getting enough sleep, you're grades are slipping."

"But Lola, this is your life. I have to try." I tried to explain. 

"But what if there just isn't enough time to find the potion that'll change me? Look at all this time we're wasting when we could just be enjoying ourselves while we can." 

"Lola, I need you to give me more time. I will find it before I lose you. I promise." I begged her. I needed her to trust me. I would put off growing up as much as possible. I couldn't lose her...my life would be meaningless.

**Harvy's POV**

Sometimes I would catch myself just staring at Liza. I swear she got more beautiful with each passing moment. She would sometimes catch me staring and start laughing, then do some silly face to make me laugh. It made me wonder if there was more than just a challenge between us. 

Not to mention she did wonders with Malachi. Whenever he was crying she would pick him up and start playing with him. He would laugh and play with her and all her cares went away. It made me wonder how such a wonderful woman got into a profession like this? She made such a great mother, why wouldn't she want to settle down and raise the children she had?

A while after Liza found out she was pregnant. I was thrilled, but also a little sad. I now knew that our relationship had a time limit on it. In 9 months time Liza would have our baby and then she would be gone. It was bitter sweet. 

"Hey Harvy, isn't Nadeen's birthday coming up?" Liza asked me. 

"Yes, but I guess we're not really doing anything fancy." I told her with a frown. 

"Why is that?" She asked me. 

"Something is going on with Nadeen. She's not thrilled at all to be a teenager. She's even gotten to the point of tears with me about it." I was really worried about Nadeen, but it's not like I had the power to postpone her birthday. Maybe when she was a teenager she would realize it wasn't that bad. 

***Nadeen's POV***

How could it be my birthday already? This morning I begged my dad to let me stay home from school. Maybe with just a few more hours I could find the potion, but he refused. He basically dragged me to the bus. All day people were so nice to me. Telling me how they were going to miss me when I went to high school and I would cry. They thought it was for them, but it wasn't. It was for Lola. I had failed, I didn't keep my promise and now Lola would be lost forever. 

"Lola, I am so sorry. So so sorry." I cried holding onto my dear friend. She hugged back as tightly as she could. 

"It's okay Nadeen. You know that I will always love you, always." She told me and it made me cry so much more. In only a few short minutes I would lose my best friend, the one that I could never replace. I let her down and she would be nothing more than a doll. Would I even remember her. 

"I love you Lola." I said as I felt my birthday start to happen.

"I love you Nadeen." 

Baby #1: Nadeen Emme as a teenager

Chapter 3: Not so Imaginary....

I walked behind Nadeen as she walked up the stairs and turned left. "The farthest room." I told her. As she opened the door she stood there with her mouth open. She was in shock. 

I even remembered how she kept saying she wanted her own chemistry table and got one in her room. 

"So, how do you like it?" I asked her. 

For a second Nadeen just stood there quietly until she took a deep breath. "Dad, this is amazing. I love it so much and I've only been in here for a minute." 

"I'm glad!" I told her. 

I actually was much more than glad. To see my first born so excited and happy with a surprise I did for her was just a great reward in itself. As I walked down the hall I saw one of the first paintings I did, one of my mother a little after she had died. I stood there and smiled at it. Sure, the lines weren't as straight as they should've been, but that was my mother. 

"Maybe I am a good parent." I told her. She smiled back at me, though...that's how I painted her. 

Nadeen spent literally all her time in her room on that chemistry table. I was a little worried so I installed a fire alarm right behind it. She had really taken a liking to it, though sometimes it was annoying....for example, it was ridiculously hard to get her to come down for dinner. 

***Nadeen's POV***

Sometimes I didn't understand the adults in this house. They get me my very own chemistry table and then I swear every five minutes they are in here telling me I need to do other stuff....okay maybe not five minutes, but I tend to get wrapped up in my work. For example, today I was on the verge of making a horror potion, a potion if taken will scare the bejesus out of whoever drank it when Kiva came in. 

"Hey Nadeen?" 

"I'm busy." I told her, yet she still came in. Honestly, I have no idea why my dad chose her for a birth mother...but whatever. 

"Actually I'm just here to drop something off."

She put a doll I hadn't seen since before my birthday on the ground. I looked back at it and memories flooded. That doll, Lola, was the only thing that kept me happy when my mom decided to leave us. "Oh, uh...thanks Kiva."

"No problem....now this laundry needs to be picked up before you go to bed." 

"Yes, yes, I know." Honestly....this woman. 

I had a huge urge to put down what I was doing, but then the thought of the horror potion came back into my head and I was back in my own world and my liquids. 

For a second I didn't even hear the faint buzzing that had begun to happen behind me. Then, when I heard it, I looked up wondering if something was happening down the street. Finally I turned around and looked at the spot Lola used to be. Instead there was a large Lola...a moving Lola! I freaked out and stumbled back, causing two of my liquids to spill into each other. I tried to stop it, but "KABOOM" 

I looked up after the explosion and realized any luck I had with making the horror potion tonight was blown, and I would have to explain singed clothes in the laundry again to by dad, but all of those thoughts diminished once Lola walked up to me. 

"N-Nadeen?" my used-to-be doll asked me. 

I nodded. 

"Do you remember me?" she asked. 

I nodded. 

"I missed you...so very much." 

And with that she gave me a hug. I was freaked out, but as if it was second nature I gave her a hug back. All the comfort I found in her when she was a doll was still there. I tried not to think about how I was going to tell those who loved me that I wasn't crazy. 

***Harvey's POV***

Kiva had went to bed early this night, saying her back was killing her and she needed to lie down. I gave her a hug before she left for my bedroom. 

I decided to stay up a little bit and worked on my latest sculpture. It wasn't long before I heard Kiva, all the way on the third floor screaming. I dropped my tools and ran up the flights of stairs, not knowing what exactly to expect. 

Kiva wasn't kidding when she said labor came very easily for her. By the time I got up there (in maybe 10 seconds) she wasn't in labor anymore. She was holding our son. I walked over to her astonished. 

"What's his name?" she asked me. 

I was stunned for a few seconds. "Don't you want a say in it?" 

"Not really, don't want to get attached." she said with a fake smile and sad eyes. 

"Malachi.....Malachi Magee." I told her. She laughed but nodded. 

Kiva fed Malachi and then put him to bed. She then started to pack. I stopped her as she was leaving, astounded she was leaving so quickly. 

"Kiva, you can stay for a while, you don't have to leave so soon." I told her. 

She smiled and gave me a hug. "Oh Harvey, you are a sweet one."

"I'm serious. I've heard birth mothers stay until the child has had a birthday. I wouldn't mind, honestly." I told her. 

Again, the smile came up. "I came to give you a child and I have done that. If I don't leave now it'll become more than that, with you and with Malachi." 

She held me close, and for a moment I was ready for a kiss, but she only looked deep into my eyes. "Please take good care of him." 

"I promise." I told her. And razzed my hair a little and then left and got in a cab. As I watched her drive away I wondered if every birth mom was going to want to leave so quickly. 

Baby #2: Malachi Magee

***Nadeen's POV***

I stayed up way too late working on my chemistry table and now I felt my stomach grumble. I allowed myself to make my way down to the kitchen and grab some left over mac & cheese. I heated it up and then went to the dining room to eat it. Just a little snack before I went to bed. As I sat down to eat though, I was startled to see Lola sitting in a chair opposite me. "Oh my gosh Lola! You scared me!" I started laughing, but Lola only held a frown. "What's the matter?"

"I'm sorry Nadeen, I'm just...a little sad about how distant we have become. I remember you used to spend almost all your time with me...but now...you barely say hi to me. I just wish the time I got left would be more spent with you." 

"I didn't mean to...it's just the chem....." I paused. "Wait, what do you mean the time you've got left?"

Lola sighed. "Well Nadeen...Imaginary Friends don't just stay with you forever. Once you reach you're teenage years...you won't be able to see me anymore." 

I was shocked, I found my mouth open in horror. "You mean....you mean I only have a few years left with you?" Lola nodded sadly. "But....no! There's got to be another....there's got to be something!" 

We sat there in quiet for a while. 

"Well...there is something...." 

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Chapter 2: Going Full Board with the Challenge.

For the next few months I spent most of my time with Nadeen. When I wasn't working on making paintings and scupltures to afford living here I was with her. I thought a lot about adding to the family and found myself a little bit hesitant. Nadeen and I had it so simple. We needed each other, what would a new baby do to our relationship?

I made sure that Nadeen learned everything she needed to so she could grow up properly. She was very bright and picked up how to walk and talk in what seemed like only a few weeks. Potty training was next and just like the others she learned it quick. It probably had something to do with all the praise I was giving her. 

She was so content to sit in the same room that I was working in and play with her new doll. I could just imagine our life together. Everything would be simple and happy and a huge part of me wanted it to stay like that. The other part of me craved the excitement for a bigger family though. I guess that's why I finally called my sister Neve and told her I was ready to start. 

Neve didn't waist anytime at all. The next day she came over with a woman I had never seen before. She seemed a bit on the heavy side, but it didn't bother me. Compared to Rian she looked much more put together, which was one thing was worried about starting this challenge. 

"Harvey, I would like you to meet Kiva Magee. She has done many baby challenges. I thought that she would be the perfect match for your second child." Neve told me. 

"It's nice to meet you." I told her awkwardly. She smiled sweetly...then we stood there in silence. 

Neve brought up that the summer festival was in town and that maybe we should go to it to break the ice. I was grateful. I dressed Nadeen and we all took a cab to the festival. I was happy to see there was an eating contest, even more that Kiva was willing to participate. 

I won! I didn't feel well after it, nor did I feel like a gentleman, but then again when it comes to competition, I could never really stop myself. She was okay about it though. She gave me another one of her sweet smiles and shook my hand. "Congrats!"

The rest of the day Kiva spent hanging around Nadeen. I could see the two hit it off real well. It made me feel better about opening my door to this lady. I could see that she really cared for all children. 

"So you...uh...been in challenges before?" I asked her. 

"Yes, I guess you could say it's my job." She laughed. 

"Your job?" I was confused. 

"I like traveling and well this job gives me room and board. It's a pretty nice lifestyle. Plus I get to help people have happiness in their lives." She shrugged. 

Nadeen had started to get grumpy and the sun was setting so we decided to go home. I believe the outing really did break the ice. I felt a lot better having Kiva in my house and having her participate in my challenge. 

Later that night after I have bathed, fed and put Nadeen down to sleep Kiva greeted me in my bedroom. She came up close and I backed up a little. She stopped and looked at me curiously. "Don't you want to do this?" 

"I do, I just didn't know it would happen so soon." I told her, my voice quivering  little. 

She gave her smile again. "Well this is what I am here for. Why not start trying?" 

I admit she had a point. 

"Don't worry, this is the fun part." She told me while she leaned in for the kiss. She was right, that night was really fun. 

The next few days when I would wake up in the morning and run to the bathroom. She assured me that in a few days she could probably announce she was pregnant, considering this is what happened every time. I gave her her space, though I felt it hard to hold my excitement. 

In her spare time she would work out. While we were talking she told me when she as young she was greatly over weight. I was surprised by how well she looked now, and that she was still working on getting fit. It was great to see someone so dedicated to improving herself. 

I wanted to make sure I always checked up my my dad. I tried to call him every week. I told him this time about possibly being a grandfather to two children. He was happy to hear it, though he didn't tell me much about what was going on with him. I let him have his privacy. 

Just like Kiva said she was confirmed that she was pregnant. I was so thrilled I danced her around before giving her a kiss. 

Most of her time she spent with Nadeen. I used this free time to sell more of my art for money. It was nice that we were all happy together, though I could feel my patience dwindling for my second child. It seemed like this idea of having another baby was a great idea!

My lovely baby Nadeen had her birthday way too soon, but I was so happy to see her grow up well. She was so beautiful and I could see so much of her mother in her it hurt a little. 

After her birthday part I got her in the call and gave her a big hug. "Oh my sweet little girl you are all grown up!"

"Not all grown up dad." She laughed. 

"Still, I think it's time to get you out of that baby room and into your very own room." I told her. 

"Are you serious?" She asked with excitement. 

I smiled and nodded. "Go ahead up stairs. I have a surprise for you."

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