Moctezuma [Let's call it Monday]

[momslilassassin]

Ben was in the nursery putting final touches on the crib, Val watching his work very carefully.

"But I wanted a puppy," she finally said, frowning.

"You're going to have a little brother instead," Ben told her. "He'll be just as slobbery, I promise."

Val looked unconvinced. "That's not what I wanted a puppy for."

Comments

[endsthegame]

"He'll be just as fun to pamper?" Ender suggested, leaning against the doorway. "And snuggle. Carefully."

[momslilassassin]

"And you can make him fetch when he's old enough, too," Ben added less helpfully.

[endsthegame]

"Only for a year or so," Ender said, "After that, you'll have to get crafty about it."

[momslilassassin]

Val nodded seriously. "I can be crafty."

"I'm sure you can be," Ben agreed with a little grin. He turned his smile to Ender. "Ho, kreetle. How's your day?"

[endsthegame]

"Busy," Ender admitted. "San Angelo was feeling chatty today."

[momslilassassin]

"He's been doing that a lot more often," Ben noted. "Finally getting into the good stuff?"

[endsthegame]

"If you mean he's talking up a storm about far more than just his church now, then yes," Ender said. He leaned against the wall. "But it's nice to get a break."

[momslilassassin]

"It's nice to have you home," Ben said, leaning in for a kiss.

[endsthegame]

Ender kissed him gently, cupping his cheek. "Has Val behaved?"

[momslilassassin]

"Yes," Ben said with a smile at their daughter, "though she thinks the baby has better toys than she does and would like to try them out first."

[endsthegame]

"Tell her she can only try them out if she does it for quality control," Ender said, smiling a touch.

[momslilassassin]

Val gave him a look. "He won't even like balls," she decided.

"I find that very unlikely," Ben teased.

[endsthegame]

Ender's mouth quirked with repressed mirth. "You don't know that," he said. "You haven't met him yet."

[momslilassassin]

"I have a feeling about it," Val said, "like Daddy gets."

Ben frowned. "You are not using the Force to figure out how to scam your brother from toys."

He was secretly kind of impressed by her devotion to getting what she wanted, though.

[endsthegame]

Ender blinked.

"Was that what you were doing last time we went to visit his pod?"

[momslilassassin]

Val nodded. "I was saying hello," she said. "He doesn't know what a ball is yet, but he recognizes us."

Ben smiled. "He does. What do you think his name should be?"

Val thought about it. "Radish."

Ben snorted.

[endsthegame]

Ender managed to keep his own laugh in check. "Why Radish?" he said. "Does he seem very Radishy to you?"

[momslilassassin]

"He's grown in the dark, like a vegetable, and Carrot's not a good name," Val told him.

[endsthegame]

This time, the laugh did make it out of Ender's mouth. "So were you," he reminded her.

[momslilassassin]

Val frowned thoughtfully. "I don't really remember it."

"It was a while ago," Ben said, kissing the top of her head.

[endsthegame]

"Though we could start calling you... hm... Asparagus?" Ender teased.

[momslilassassin]

Val wrinkled up her nose. "I don't like apsparagus."

Close, Val.

[endsthegame]

Ender laughed softly. "Potato?" he tried.

[momslilassassin]

Val burst out laughing. "Noooooo! I'm Val!"

[endsthegame]

"Nuh uh, you just made the rules," Ender said, grinning. "Kids who got grown in the dark have to get vegetable names."