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]

"How is she sleeping?" Ender asked softly.

[momslilassassin]

"Like a rock," Ben said, "which has always been kind of a weird thing to say."

[endsthegame]

Ender chuckled. "I hope she's having good dreams of her many, many presents," he said. "I've still got a plush animal and some baby-appropriate candy for her."

[momslilassassin]

"That's because you're also the best dad ever," Ben said.

[endsthegame]

"I'm trying not to spoil her too much," Ender admitted, "But she makes it tough."

[momslilassassin]

"She's completely adorable," Ben said, "so I get it."

[endsthegame]

"Your fault," Ender decided. "Dimples."

[momslilassassin]

"They are an unfair advantage," Ben agreed.

[endsthegame]

"She's going to be a menace when she gets older." Ender nuzzled his neck. "Have you been working on anything else, besides her toys?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben sighed softly. "Not really," he said. "She's been keeping me busy. I'll look over the engines before we leave again."

[endsthegame]

"Good," Ender said. "I like watching you tinker."

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled and kissed him. "Yeah?"

[endsthegame]

"You get so focused," Ender said, smiling back at him. "And clever."

[momslilassassin]

"It's nice to stretch my brain that way," he agreed.

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled. "So I hope you'll take on more projects," he said, "Because I like to watch."

[momslilassassin]

"And then kiss me," Ben teased.

[endsthegame]

"A lot," Ender agreed. "It's a perk."

[momslilassassin]

"For you or me?" Ben asked.

[endsthegame]

"Both of us," Ender said, kissing him softly.

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled against Ender's mouth. "Love you."

[endsthegame]

"Happy our daughter's first birthday," Ender murmured. "We successfully got her through one year."

[momslilassassin]

"Only another hundred something to go," Ben replied.

[endsthegame]

Ender laughed softly. "I hope to be dead and buried with you by then," he said, "Some kind of spontaneous simultaneous death in our sleep."

[momslilassassin]

Ben leaned in and kissed him. "Not until we're done having adventures."

[endsthegame]

"When there's nothing more exciting left in the universe," Ender said, kissing him back softly.