a/n: written for the Pokemon Fanfiction Challenges forum (OTP Week Challenge)
child - winter - 496 words - T - Family
December. Winter all around.
They watch over their newborn baby, their fixation almost reverent as they examine him, hold him, try to convince themselves that it is real.
"Look at him," she whispers, holding the tiny bundle of cloth closer to her chest. She is in awe. "So perfect."
"Every inch," her husband agrees, reaching out a slim finger. The baby grasps it in one of his tiny hands, cooing. The green-haired man grins.
"He's a strong one. He gets that from you, probably." Draping an arm around his wife's shoulder, he adds, "It was probably all that hiking and climbing up mountains on your journey. It finally paid off."
She grins. "You think our child's going to be an adventurer?" she asks, carefully stroking one of its chubby cheeks. Already, the baby has begun to get drowsy, eyelids fluttering. It is still unused to activity, even minor things like holding a finger.
He shrugs, smiling, and offers to take him from her. She relents and gives her husband a chance to hold their child. Gently, he rocks the baby back and forth.
"Maybe," he admits. "Although, I wonder..."
"If he has your gift?" She laughs. "That should have been obvious enough. Did you see the way that nurse's Purrloin and the other hospital Pokemon flocked to him? Our baby's going to be special."
"He is special," N murmurs. He points. "Look, he's got your hair. Chestnut brown. Think he's going to be as curly-haired as your brother, Touya?"
Touko giggles. "Or, he could turn out like you and have to wear a messy ponytail. Only, it'll be a brown one."
"What's so funny about that?" N demands.
"Can you imagine our baby with a brown ponytail? He'll look like one of the guitarists on that route by Nimbasa City. The one that leads to Driftveil." She lets out another tinkling, bell-like giggle. "I think, if the training circuit doesn't work out for him, he could have a second calling!"
N chuckles merrily. "Which one? Electric or acoustic guitar?"
Both of them burst into raucous laughter at that, finding the notion strangely amusing. Tears rolling down her cheeks in mirth, Touko stammers, "Oh...haha...the...ha...baby...asleep..."
"Tired, little guy?" N strokes the baby's forehead before incling his head in the direction of the crib. "Come on, let's get him to bed."
The two of them stand above the cradle, N lowering the baby down onto a soft mattress. Above, a dangling mobile with Zoruas, Darumaka, and the Unovan starters Oshawott, Tepig, and Snivy quietly chase each other, the strings blown faintly by a small draft.
Touko bends down and kisses the baby. "Good night, dear," she whispers. "Sleep tight."
"Beautiful, isn't he?" Now N is the one who looks amazed. Touko, smiling a soft smile, slips her husband's hand into her own.
"Yeah."
