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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[endsthegame]

"I think they're cute," Ender said fondly. "If occasionally ice cold."

[momslilassassin]

"You're hopelessly biased," Ben said, kissing him again.

[endsthegame]

"Yes," Ender said fondly, "But I'm allowed, I think."

[momslilassassin]

"Always allowed," Ben said, smiling back just as fondly.

[endsthegame]

Ender kissed him softly. Then he peered past Ben. "--Look, she's doing that little finger wiggle again."

[momslilassassin]

"She is so cute," Ben said, smiling at her, then at Ender. "We make good kids."

[endsthegame]

"Definitely time to do the universe a favor and make another one," Ender teased softly.

[momslilassassin]

"Clearly," Ben said, grinning. "It's our gift to it."

[endsthegame]

"In a way, isn't it the best gift we can give?" Ender said, smiling faintly. "A new generation, to carry on the very important job of living."

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed him again. "Exactly."

[endsthegame]

"Not that I'm in any rush to stop working yet," Ender said, sliding his arm around Ben's shoulders as he kissed him back.

[momslilassassin]

"You wouldn't be you if you were," Ben said fondly. "You need a project."

[endsthegame]

"I do," Ender said. "After the summer."

[momslilassassin]

"We'll find a new planet while we're in Fandom. That's a good project, too."

[endsthegame]

"I still need to do some last-minute research on our options," Ender said, "But essentially."

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled, lower lip quivering slightly. "Hopefully it won't be quite as painful a process this time?"

[endsthegame]

Ender sighed, hugging him closer. "They've got something like four centuries of progress to back them up," he murmured, "And they got it right the second time around as it was..."

He was trying to be rational about this, not just for Ben's sake, but also his own.

[momslilassassin]

Ben tucked his head against Ender's shoulder and held on tightly. "Yeah," he murmured. "And we've got each other."

[endsthegame]

"We do," Ender said softly. "And we have Val. Both Vals."

[momslilassassin]

"And that would be enough," Ben said, resting his forehead against Ender's. "More than enough. But I want to try again."

[endsthegame]

"Me too," Ender murmured. "Maybe it's the left-over Catholic part of me that wants a big family. Or maybe I just selfishly want to keep catapulting different configurations of our genes into the future."

[momslilassassin]

Ben chuckled. "Well, your genes are pretty spectacular."

[endsthegame]

Ender grinned. "My parents had them made that way just for you," he teased.

[momslilassassin]

"How very obliging of them," Ben said, beaming at him.

[endsthegame]

Ender kissed him again. "Can't complain about yours either, though," he decided.