Nagoya [a month later]

[momslilassassin]

Ben was still smiling as they walked away from the Portalocity terminal, his hand in Ender's. "That was a nice visit," he said. "Dad's really, really excited about becoming a grandfather, huh? I think the Ewok-themed nursery might be a bit much, though."

[OOC: For the boy!]

Comments

[endsthegame]

"I'm so lucky you're willing to deal with my itinerant life," Ender said quietly.

[momslilassassin]

"Kreetle, it's what I know," he said, resting his forehead against Ender's. "You're not making me sacrifice anything here."

[endsthegame]

"I know," Ender murmured, "But sometimes I still feel like I'm having my cake and eating it too."

[momslilassassin]

"You're allowed to have things you want," Ben whispered back, kissing him softly.

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled at him and fiddled gently with Ben's hair. "I used to think the things I wanted were incompatible with the things I needed to do," he said. "I'm just grateful that's not true."

[momslilassassin]

And because it was Ben, he couldn't resist the terrible joke. "You can both want me and need to do me," he said, eyes sparkling.

[endsthegame]

Ender laughed. "I think it's a little early for that."

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed his nose. "I know," he said, turning more serious, "and I'm glad you're realizing that this is something you get to keep."

[endsthegame]

"For as long as you let me," Ender murmured.

[momslilassassin]

Ben wrapped his arms around him and held on tightly. "For as long as I can."

[endsthegame]

Ender let out a little sigh and smiled, relaxing into Ben's arms and pressing his face into Ben's shoulder. "Lucky."

[momslilassassin]

"You or me?" Ben murmured.

[endsthegame]

"Me," Ender murmured. "Very much me."

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed the top of Ender's head, for once not arguing about who was luckier. "I love you so much."

[endsthegame]

"I know," Ender teased.

He settled in quietly for another few long moments, mostly content - in as much as he ever got.

"How's she doing?" he asked softly, eventually.

[momslilassassin]

Ben paused for a second, reaching out through the Force to check. "Fine," he replied, smiling softly into the distance. "Content. Her brain's getting bigger...she'll be able to reach back soon."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled. "Now that will be an occasion," he said.

[momslilassassin]

"There might be tears," Ben said. "Warning you now."

[endsthegame]

Ender kissed his cheek. "Nothing to warn me about," he said softly.

[momslilassassin]

Ben leaned in against him again. "It's a little overwhelming," he whispered.

[endsthegame]

"Yeah," Ender said. He began to run his fingers through Ben's hair again, gentle, soothing motions. "That little dot made up of you and me is starting to have feelings of her own," he said quietly, "and soon she'll know she has a dad keeping tabs on her."

[momslilassassin]

"Two dads," Ben murmured, closing his eyes. "I'll introduce you."

[endsthegame]

"I'd like that a lot," Ender said quietly. "Force-dumb as I might be."

[momslilassassin]

"You have other gifts," Ben murmured, kissing Ender's cheek. "You're just not Force sensitive. You're regular sensitive."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled. "Sometimes I'm a little jealous you get to look in on her all the time," he admitted, "But it's nice to have the reassurance."