Title: 11 months
Author: BellamortsDaughterNesha
Summary: the Grinch experiences the most enlightening, terrifying, and wonderful 11 months of his life; Martha May's pregnancy.
Authors Notes: The whole pregnancy of the Whos is not very well explained so most of what you will see here has been invented by the tiny grinch in my mind. This is a continuation of A Christmas Year and it fits right before the last chapter and the epilogue of that story.

He was going to be a father. The Grinch? A father? Not even he believed it; not even he wanted to believe it in case it was a dream or a mistake. How could he, one of the most vile creatures in the world according to some species, be the father to a tiny Who?

“How can I?” He exclaimed loudly, his voice booming throughout his lair.

The echo soon came back to him, its message very clear. “You can’t, you can’t, you can’t, you ca…”

“I know it! What were we thinking?!” He asked as he stomped his foot.

There was only one thing that could guarantee a semi-normal Who life for his baby. Martha May was their ‘normal Who-factor’, and he couldn’t have been more happy about it.

Ever since she had announced to him that they were expecting he had been observing her. 25 days, 12 hours, 45 minutes, and 3 seconds according to the Christmas countdown on the plaza. He had observed her sleeping, eating, walking, and even laughing. He didn’t quite know why, it was Martha, his Martha, and he had already memorized each of her physical features. Yet, there was something about her, something new that he couldn’t quite place but that made him ache to be by her side and protect her from any harm. If Martha were to know about it she would probably slap his arm playfully, lean in to kiss him, and promise she didn’t need protecting.

His observations had brought new light to his image of Martha. As she slept she was peaceful, even more than usual, and he couldn’t help but notice that she always displayed a tiny smile on her thick rosebud lips. She also snuggled closer to him, if that was even possible, seeking his warmth. As she ate he realized that her meals were becoming more and more healthy. Once, as they were eating, a baby Who besides them dropped his bottle. Before he could even turn, and before its mother’s reacted, Martha had sprung up and was consoling the tiny being. Her walk had changed; it was still as luxurious as ever, her steps carefully measured but so flawlessly executed that they flowed. Now her walk had adopted a certain grace which, along with the flowing movement, made her appear almost as a floating Who-deity.

But it was her laugh that most intrigued him. Her laugh had always been rich and powerful to the point that it melted hearts and bad feelings. Now, whenever she laughed, her eyes lit up almost as tiny snowflakes, her lips curled in a genuine smile, showing her perfect teeth. And the sounds that came out of it, oh those sounds out of her lips were joyous and showing she hid something beautiful.

He was amazed, very amazed, at how she had changed yet remained the Martha he adored and loved. It mystified him, his eyes never ungluing from her frame even as she blushed and told him to pay attention to whatever they were doing.

How further along was she? “Lets see…. A month before Christmas, and twenty five days…” He started adding with his long green fingers. He scratched his head and tried again.

A bark broke through his concentration. “I knew that!” He said accusingly. “She’s almost two months in and having nine months to go.” He declared before sticking out his tongue to Max.

He grunted and sat on his favorite lazy boy. He looked around, as if to see if anybody was around him. Realizing that nobody was around but Max, Martha having left to buy a new dress, he leaned forward unto a small table Martha had place in front of the sofa. His fingers touched the bottom of the table, grunted as he unstuck something from beneath it.

Max whined and made him jump. “MAX! You ALMOST killed me from a heart ATTACK!” Max knew better than to make another sound after that outburst.

Taking a deep breath he quickly opened the book titled How Baby-Whos Are Expected and Delivered; Illustrated Edition and skimmed through it. “I knew that! That sounds good!” He suddenly stopped and turned the book around several times before nodding. “That’s just weird!” He exclaimed before throwing the book over his shoulder.

He frowned before getting up and picking up the book once more. “Alright Max we have to learn this or the next nine months will… not... be … pretty… AT ALL!”

For once Max did not whine and instantly went to his side looking over his arm at the book. “According to this… babies do come in baskets with the push of the wind.” He said surprised as he pushed the book down. His child was coming in a basket, unprotected, and at the mercy of the wind. “I thought that was just something people told children so they wouldn’t explain the birds and the bees… or was it the flowers and he bees?” he shrugged before bringing his book back up. “A Who lady suffers all the pregnancy symptoms until the moment the Who baby arrives at the doorstep.” He read out loud.

Max whined and covered his eyes with his paws. His posture did not leave to a guesstimation what he felt.

“I know old boy, the next months are going to be a war.” He sighed, put his heads on his hand and drummed his fingers on his cheek. “We have to make them perfect for Martha.”

A bark of agreement followed. He looked at the Grinch, his eyebrows appeared to raise in a question. He barked once more.

“I don’t know! What do I look like? A Who pregnancy encyclopedia?” he asked as he stuck the book under the table again. He looked at Max, almost scared and a little unsure. “Cravings, mood swings, body aches… I would guess.”

This defiantly needed more research, if he was to survive unscathed.

“Grinch! I am home Grinchy!” Martha’s voice was accompanied by a cold wind coming from outside.

The Grinch quickly looked at the table, to make sure the book wasn’t showing, before getting up and paddling over to Martha. There it was, the famous smile and twinkle in her eye as she floated towards him. She gently kissed him and he couldn’t’ help but pull her body closer to his, deepening the kiss. She tasted like the perfect combination of Christmas cheer, gingerbread, candy cane, and strawberry pie. She was addictive to him and he wouldn’t have it any other way or miss any opportunity to be her ‘Grinchy’ although he pretended to hate the name.

She finished the kiss, whipped his lips before continuing in her way. He followed her with his eyes, a grin on his lips. He would have to observe those changes in Martha. Although he had never been worried or even cared about pregnancy since he was now drawn to it, something told him, deep within, that although it would be hard he would enjoy it like no other thing in his life.