Their wedding went as smoothly as weddings can. Charon walked Ahiru down the aisle. She had a familiar quality about her. Charon could not place this, but he walked her down the aisle with a certainty, and confidence that this girl, this union, would leave no regrets.
Fakir and Ahiru bought a cottage on the lake. There was some dispute on the purchase. Ahiru thought it was perfect, but too big and pricey—too extravagant. Fakir reassured her, and they made a low offer, and after a few negotiations, got the cottage for a good price. It was within walking distance of the town.
With his writing, and her job counselling, they were able to live self-sufficiently. Ahiru even found she had a knack for gardening, so they had fresh vegetables and spices at their disposal. Cooking, however, did not come as naturally to Ahiru. So Fakir did most of that, at first. But he taught her, and she did improve, but there were a notable number of kitchen mishaps. Mistakes are a learning opportunity.
No matter how many times Ahiru quacked, she never changed back into a duck. So the change was—thankfully—permanent. Ahiru was completely human. Fakir knew this first hand. Their kisses, her soft touch, it was completely real.
They were married and loved each other dearly.
"Um Fakir?"
"Yes?"
"I was wondering... did you write me another story?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"I feel funny... like I'm changing again."
"What? Don't tell me you changed into a duck at some point!" He reached out and held her close. He was pleasantly warm, as ever. "We'll figure this out Ahiru, don't worry..."
"No, not like that."
"Then what?"
"I don't know..."
A few weeks later...
"Ahiru... you look different... and like really happy. What's going on?"
"Nothing..."
Fakir made his extra serious face, the one like when he's writing,
"Ahiru, come here a sec..."
"Why?"
"Trust me...
"Fakir...you're acting weird."
"Let's dance"
"Okay."
They danced a pas de deux. It was pleasant as ever, but when Fakir did the lift the same way as always, it felt different. He held below her leg, and the side of her stomach. It felt too tight. They both sensed this.
"Ow, Fakir."
He placed her back down gently.
"Um Ahiru..." Fakir was blushing.
"Yeah?"
"You know where babies come from, right?"
"Well yeah silly, they hatch out of eggs. Maybe we'll have a few of our own someday..." Ahiru seemed lost in that thought.
"Baby ducks hatch out of eggs. Humans are a bit different. Ahiru? You don't know?"
Ahiru stared blankly.
Fakir was, for once, at a loss for words.
"What Fakir?"
"Well humans... humans have babies."
"I don't understand."
"Ahiru, do you know the meaning of the word pregnant?"
"No."
"Well, I guess that makes sense, you've thought you were a duck most of your life... and you've never seen anyone with child"
"With child? All the weird phrases. It's just arbitrary wording. It doesn't matter if I understand it. Stop condescending. Let's talk about something important instead. Like how happy you make me, your eyes Fakir...seeing them always feels so good"
"Yes, and I could go on for weeks about the depth of your eyes Ahiru... But this is very important. That's what I'm trying to say."
"What's so important about such a stupid sounding word?"
"Ahiru... There's no simple way to say this, pregnant is... When people have kids, the kid grows inside the mother for nine months, and then they are born."
"That's weird... Why the mother?"
"That's just how it is"
"That's not much of an answer. But what makes her pregnant?"
Fakir turned to the nearby bookshelf. "Here's an encyclopedia. You can see the description. Just read it."
"Fakir why are you suddenly telling me about this?"
"I thought you already knew. Usually people find out where babies come from at a much younger age. I never imagined you didn't know, if I'd known I would have told you before we got married."
"Why before...oh right... "Ahiru glanced at the encyclopedia again.
"What made you bring this up?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"What? ... Eh!" Ahiru turned pink. "You don't mean..."
Ahiru felt her stomach and looked at the picture of a woman...
"Of course we're not sure yet, but the symptoms match up. Remember, you said you felt like you were changing a few weeks ago... and today, well, you were glowing."
"Fakir...it's so sudden. I... I..."
"I'll always beside you."
"Fakir... a child? Are we ready? I don't know anything about being a mom."
"Nor I being a father, but we'll learn."
After a brief visit to the doctor, it was confirmed. The child was born the next summer. It was a son.
"Think of any names?" asked Fakir.
"I was thinking...Muto."
Fakir shuddered... "Really?"
"No, idiot. Why would I do something that ridiculous? His name is Fakir, if you like it that is..."
"Hmm, could you really stand having two Fakir's around?"
"I could put up with it. It was my idea after all."
"We can always call him by his middle name... Muto," Fakir suggested.
"Fakir... you really can't take a joke..."
"I'm not joking."
"You hated it when I suggested it..."
"No I didn't hate it. But I feared for your reasons. It's incredibly tacky to name a child after an ex-boyfriend."
"He was not my boyfriend!"
"Maybe not, but you did like him."
"Yeah, but my feelings for Muto changed. I realized that all I could do for him was to help him regain his heart. I could still help him to smile, even though I wouldn't end up his princess. I could still help him, so that's all I sought to do. I just wanted the best for Muto."
"As did I. And I did whatever I could to protect him. Without you I would still be depriving Muto of his freedom in an ill-conceived attempt to help him."
"Fakir, we combined our powers, and worked together to help him. Neither of us could have done it alone."
Fakir replied, "He is, in a way, what brought us together."
"I love you," Ahiru said.
"I love you too. And our little Fakir Muto..."
In the next room the sleeping child began to cry...
"It's like he knows his name already"
Fakir went and cradled the child in his arms.