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

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled at him. "Something like that."

[endsthegame]

Ender kissed his forehead, practically radiating fondness. "Or what?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben snuggled in against him, sending a quick surge of contentment back through the Force. "Nope, just the ego, and the fear of being a hovering parent before I'm even really a parent."

[endsthegame]

"I think you're allowed to hover until she's at least two years old," Ender said softly.

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah?" Ben said, smiling over at him. "Need to catch up on my baby book reading, then."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled back. "Well, she won't be able to talk so well, and her motor skills will be all over the place," he said, "She could use a Jedi guardian angel who can read her mind. Though she's a Wiggin, so it might come in quick."

[momslilassassin]

"As long as she's not Bean fast, we're okay," Ben murmured.

[endsthegame]

"Nobody turned Anton's Key in my family," Ender said, kissing his temple. "But expect to be fielding basic arithmetic by age 3."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, obviously," Ben said. "They question is: in what language?"

[endsthegame]

Ender laughed. "Unless you plan to spend the entire time speaking Spanish to our children..."

[momslilassassin]

"She could learn Japanese here, probably," Ben offered.

[endsthegame]

"I don't think we'll stay here long enough for that," Ender admitted.

[momslilassassin]

"To get her to talk?" Ben replied.

[endsthegame]

"It's not right here for the Hive Queen, and we're already staying here much longer than I'd planned," Ender said softly. "When the ship is done and she's ready to travel--" or something fell through, he didn't say, "--we need to go."

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "I figured that she was being a little indulgent letting us stay this long."

[endsthegame]

"She understands reproduction," Ender said wryly. "So she's a little less impatient than usual."

[momslilassassin]

"I appreciate her patience," Ben said. "Tell her that?"

[endsthegame]

"I could, but I'm not sure she would see the significance," Ender admitted. "In her perspective, it is what it is."

[momslilassassin]

Ben rested his head against Ender's. "Good point. Will she be confused that we only have one at a time?"

[endsthegame]

"I don't think so. She grasps that part," Ender said quietly. "She seems a lot more understanding of it all now that it's taking place in my universe."

[momslilassassin]

"Why do you think that is?" Ben asked.

[endsthegame]

"I don't think she likes the Force," Ender murmured. "She calls it the Strange Song, or the Discordant Web, or whatever other imagery she happens to pluck out of my head that falls into a similar category."

[momslilassassin]

"I'm not entirely convinced she likes me at all, either," Ben said with a wry smile.

[endsthegame]

"She likes you better now," Ender said wryly. "You feel more like you belong here these days, apparently."

[momslilassassin]

Ben chuckled. "Well, I wasn't doing it to please her."