Skywalker Home, Naboo

[momslilassassin]

"Happy birthday, Val!" Ben said, beaming at the baby, who was glowering at him from under her (frankly hilarious) pink and bedazzled birthday crown. Ben was hoping this would nip the "want to wear the Queen of Naboo's headdresses" thing right in the bud.

"Cake?" Val asked pointedly, looking from one dad to the other.

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[momslilassassin]

"Well, yes, but I didn't want to practice patience right now," Ben said, kissing Ender's cheek.

[endsthegame]

"You never do, love," Ender said fondly. He pointed at his watch. "We're almost there."

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled. "I'm glad to hear it. It's good cake."

[endsthegame]

"The people at the bakery did good," Ender said, laughing softly. "We should thank them."

[momslilassassin]

"On our way out tomorrow," Ben said, nodding.

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled softly. "It's been a nice few months out here," he said. "I'm glad I let you talk me into staying longer."

Even if he was starting to itch again.

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed him softly. "Thank you for staying."

[endsthegame]

"I like seeing you happy," Ender said quietly. "And Val enjoys it."

His hand brushed through Val's hair.

[momslilassassin]

"Cake," Val informed them.

Ben laughed. "And we'll do a summer in Fandom, then off again on another adventure."

[endsthegame]

Ender nodded. "I'll lay out our options when we get to Fandom," he said.

He held his datapad up for Val. "Has the number changed?"

[momslilassassin]

"Yes," Val said, nodding hard.

"She's been very patient," Ben added.

[endsthegame]

"Then you can have cake," Ender said solemnly, slicing off another chunk and putting it down in front of her.

[momslilassassin]

"Cake!" Val said joyously, digging in.

"Well, she only turns one once," Ben said with a fond grin. "Can't believe it's gone by so quickly."

[endsthegame]

"Just another seventeen left to go and she'll be running away from us," Ender said dryly.

[momslilassassin]

"It's cute you think she'll last seventeen years," Ben said, kissing Ender's cheek.

[endsthegame]

"My family doesn't have a track record of taking off to go on 'adventures'," Ender said. "I'm hoping she inherited that."

[momslilassassin]

Ben laughed. "But where's the fun in that?"

[endsthegame]

"She might make it to age 18 without losing a limb?" Ender said.

Very, very dryly.

[momslilassassin]

Ben made a face at him. "Funny," he replied just as dryly. "I did."

Ignore the lightsaber scars and the Abeloth-up-his-nose-ness, apparently.

[endsthegame]

"Yes, we only had to iron the scars out of your face," Ender said blandly.

[momslilassassin]

Ben ran his fingers through his hair. "But she won't be fighting galactic forces of evil. Probably."

[endsthegame]

"If she wants to fight galactic forces of evil great or small," Ender said, "She can wait until she's 18."

[momslilassassin]

"I think that sounds like a terribly reasonable request from us," Ben said. "Or else we'll take away her cake."

[endsthegame]

"You hear that, Val?" Ender said, as he cut off another piece. "No adventures, or you get no cake."

[momslilassassin]

Val gave them both an "are you kidding me" look that was way beyond her...year, and Ben snorted.

"Think she's going to do what she wants, kreetle."