"Hello?" Isaac said, answering the phone.
"Hi Ike," Natalie said cheerfully. "Is Tay there?"
"Yeah, sure, just a second," Isaac moved his head away from the phone and yelled: "Tay! Phone!"
Taylor
"Got it!" Taylor called, rushing toward him and grabbing it.
"Thanks. Hello?"
Natalie
"Hi Tay! Guess what," Natalie said excitedly. "The baby kicked me today. He's never kicked before. This is like the first kicking."
She had been so thrilled she called Taylor as soon as the sensation passed.
Taylor
"Really?" Taylor's eyes lit up.
"The baby kicked," he told Isaac before retreating from the room.
"Nat that's amazing. I wish I could have been there. I miss you both like crazy I swear."
Natalie and Isaac
Isaac gave Taylor two thumbs up as he left the room.
"I miss you too. Hopefully he'll kick next time you're here. Then you can feel it too," Natalie replied, mixed with her excitement and her sadness that Taylor couldn't be there.
Taylor
"He'd better!" Taylor insisted.
"You can tell him from me that if he doesn't there'll be hell to pay!"
Natalie
Natalie giggled.
"Okay," she said seriously. "You hear that Erza or Penelope? You have to kick for Daddy next time he's here."
Taylor
"Yeah, or else!" Taylor added with a chuckle.
"So... I've been counting the days until I see you again. And I've decided we need to set up a webcam or video phone conferencing or something, but I just know I'm missing out."
Natalie
"Oooh," Natalie said enthusiastically. "That's a great idea!"
She twisted the phone cord in her fingers.
Taylor
"Yeah?" Taylor's eyes lit up again.
"Then it's a deal. I'll see if I can get someone over there to set up a web cam, and I'll find one for my laptop. No promises on how soon or anything..."
Natalie
"Oh, that's okay," Natalie said. "I mean, we've been talking on the phone without video for a while now, so a little longer won't kill us I'm sure."
She smiled to herself.
"Still, it'll be nice when it's up and running. I'm getting fat," she giggled.
Taylor
"That's true, I guess we could wait," Taylor rolled his eyes.
"And remember, it's not fat. Not technically," he chuckled.
Natalie
"Would you accept 'big' as a suitable substitute?" Natalie asked, grinning to herself.
Taylor
Taylor sighed dramatically.
"I guess I oculd let that one go," he said teasingly.
Natalie
Natalie giggled.
"So, how are the tour plans coming?"
Taylor
"Really well," Taylor nodded to himself, "we're actually set to leave on the 24th, so there's only two more weeks left to prepare. Do you want me to call you from the airport when we get in? I mean I'll obviously talk to you before then, but you know..."
Natalie
"Sure," Natalie replied. "That would be great. I mean, just so long as it's convienent."
She didn't want Taylor to be running for the plane and trying to call her at the same time or something silly like that. Not that she thought he would...
Taylor
"I'm sure I'll find the time," Taylor insisted.
"If I found the time to call Mom every other tour I'm sure I can call my wife."
Natalie
Natalie giggled.
"That would be really good," she replied. "I'd love to get phonecalls from my husband during the tour."
Taylor
"Glad to hear it," Taylor nodded, then sighed.
"I just wish you were coming with us."
Natalie
"Yeah," Natalie said wistfully.
She curled the phone cord around her finger.
"But, there'll be other tours."
Taylor
"Yeah I know," Taylor sighed.
"I'm just gonna pretend I'm a stubborn child and stomp my foot and pout because it can't be this one."
Natalie
Natalie giggled.
"Does this mean I should start practicing my mothering skills?" she teased. "Now, Taylor, if you start chucking a tantrum you can just go to bed without supper."
Taylor
"I'll be good," Taylor promised.
"It just won't be a happy good. Maybe I'll go pick on Ike or something."
Natalie
"Wait," Natalie chuckled. "This is a good opportunity for the line 'don't pick on your brother, Taylor'."
She giggled mischeviously.
Taylor
Taylor attempted to keep a straight face, but chuckled at that.
"Yes Mom," he drawled, "I promise I won't pick on Ike. No promises on Zac though. Fair?"
Natalie
"Fair," Natalie agreed. "Zac asks for it."
She chuckled.