Soul Food: Fish In Dreams

[williedearest]

 Soul Food
Title: FISH IN DREAMS

Rating: PG13

Pairing: Teri/Miles

Genre: AU {alternate universe}

Summary: What if Bird wasn’t the fish in Mother Joe’s last dream? Their struggle for a family. Warning, based on the book. In which Teri does want a child and Maxine’s comments hit home.


PROLOGUE~ four years in the past



Another Sunday, another dinner at Big Mama’s house. Mother Joe sat at the head of the table surrounded by her family and Reverend Williams.

‘I dreamt about fish last night.’ Mother Joe grinned. Miles gave Teri’s hand a squeeze and kissed her temple. She smiled, suddenly feeling filled with reassurance her latest urge for a family would be fulfilled. Miles knew his wife was brilliant and accomplished. He wanted to give her everything and hated to see her struggle with their inability to procreate. Their brief exchange seemed to go unnoticed by everyone except the all-knowing Mother Joe.

’Actually,’ Maxine beamed, ‘Kenny and I had an announcement.’

Teri’s smile fall as everyone congratulated the expecting parents, including Miles. Ahmad, Mother Joe’s Sweet Pea, sat across from her.

‘It’s a boy!’ he said proudly.

Bird laughed, ‘Don’t get your hopes up little man. We don’t know yet.’

Everyone seemed to be filled with happiness from the exciting news, but Teri.

‘Something wrong Teri?’ Big Mama asked.

‘No Mama. I’m fine.’

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dinner ended and everything was cleared. Family poured out of the house and into their cars and Teri and Miles were first to leave. Teri shut the passenger door with a loud slam, before Miles started the engine.

‘Baby, it’s gonna be okay. We’ll have a baby eventually.’ He rubbed her back with his open palm as she stared down at her perfectly flat abdomen. She lifted her head, face streaked with black.

‘No, no it’s not. Max’ll keep poppin’ em out like some machine. Eventually Bird will too.’

‘We can.’

‘No, we can’t. I’ll get older and older. It’s not going to happen. Might as well get my tubes tied.’ She cried. Miles pulled her in for a hug and let her just cry as Mother Joe watched from the living room window.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kelly was born eight months later and Teri has focused on work ever since.