Ben & Ender's bedroom, Shakespeare [Monday evening]

[momslilassassin]

It was old habit that led Ben to sit on asking Ender "what the hell was that?" about their meeting with Cade, their frankly terrifying and surly grandson, what the hell what the hell what the hell, until they were tucked into bed together.

"Soo..." he began. "What the hell was that?"

[OOC: For the boy!]

Comments

[endsthegame]

"We failed teaching our son to parent well?"

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah," Ben said, snuggling in closer. "How'd we screw something that important up?"

[endsthegame]

Ender sighed, wrapping his arms more tightly around him. "I don't know," he said.

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed his cheek, quiet for a long moment. "What are you thinking?" he murmured.

[endsthegame]

"I'm thinking Cade needs someone to pressure him into talking more," Ender said, reaching up to rub at the bridge of his own nose. "This makes me tired."

[momslilassassin]

"I didn't mean to jinx us," Ben murmured unhappily.

[endsthegame]

"Superstition didn't get us into this," Ender said, dropping his hand to rub Ben's shoulder. "And we don't have to deal with it too much if we don't want to."

He was already starting to develop a sense of responsibility towards Cade, though. But shh.

[momslilassassin]

Ben rested his head in the crook of Ender's neck. "I know us both a little better than that," he whispered, "but where do we even start?"

[endsthegame]

Ender blew out a breath. "Keep this in mind if we ever have kids?" he said dryly.

[momslilassassin]

"Not name one of them Bantha?" Ben added.

[endsthegame]

"Please don't," Ender agreed. "We should probably visit Cade-- from time to time. I'd rather not reawaken his kneejerk 'shriek and run away' instincts."

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "Or the drinking at breakfast time because he's talking to relatives thing."

[endsthegame]

Ender rubbed at Ben's arm again because it was better than rubbing at his forehead again; he was afraid he'd wear away the skin at this rate.

"We need to talk to your dad," he said finally.

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah," Ben said, kissing Ender on the worried wrinkles on his forehead. "That'll be a fun conversation."

[endsthegame]

"I get that he's focused," Ender said, "And often for good reason. I'd just rather he doesn't turn my grandchildren into alcoholics."

[momslilassassin]

"Me too," Ben said, sighing heavily. "Coruscant's back under Sith control. Can't be a great time to be a Jedi."

[endsthegame]

"No," Ender said. He stared up at the ceiling. "It doesn't surprise me at all we had kids stubborn enough to go back there anyway," he said quietly.

[momslilassassin]

"They'll double up on a sense of duty as well as the stubbornness," Ben murmured. "If things get bad--and it sounds like it does--of course they'd want to help."

He didn't voice the thought that had been bouncing around in his head: What about Val?

[endsthegame]

"It's ridiculous," Ender said, "I'm not exactly a father yet, but part of me is still hoping they didn't all go-- and that Bantha, ridiculous name and all, is doing okay."

[momslilassassin]

"Me too," Ben whispered, hugging Ender tightly. "It's strange--I've always been the furthest point on the family timeline, watching while Jaina and Anakin walk their paths and knowing at least how some of their choices will go. Now I'm where they are--wondering what horrible choice I made gets me a grandkid with tattoos and a major chip on his shoulder."

[endsthegame]

Ender sighed softly, hugging him back. "If there is some horrible mistake you made that leads directly into this, it won't be for decades yet," he said quietly. "We've talked about this - we're not in any place to have kids yet."

[momslilassassin]

"And yet we have a grandkid," Ben said. "Sort of."

[endsthegame]

"Talk about a sudden commitment," Ender joked weakly.

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed his jaw. "I'm a little overwhelmed."

[endsthegame]

"I know," Ender said, giving him another squeeze. "That's why I tried to do most of the talking."