John became aware of the world around him slowly. He was warm. Very warm. Hot in fact. But it was a soft warmth that surrounded him, like a big blanket and a soft, gently inflating and deflating pillow beneath him. He sighed and nuzzled into the warmth as recent events bloomed back into his memory like pig puffy flowers of orange. A soft scratching sound distracted him from his recollections and his brow furrowed, his eyes still shut. The scratching sound came again and the figure beneath him shifted slightly. The sound came again, more urgent this time, like someone tapping on glass. It was followed by a curse from under him.

"Shit!" Davesprite shifted and gently shook John, "Hey, Egbert. Time to get up."

"Hmm?" John rubbed sleep from his eyes as he sat up and shifted off of Dave.

The ethereal boy bent over the side of his nest and began to rummage and finally produced the bright red egg from where he had stuffed it earlier. The thing was shaking and the tapping sound became crystal clear. John's eyes widened as Dave's narrowed worriedly.

"Dave!" John giggled with delight, "Dave it's going to hatch!"

"I'm aware of that, Egderp," Dave tried to hide the worry in his voice, but John recognized it and laid a hand atop the egg as well.

"Dave," John smiled, "It's gonna be ok."

Dave was about to protest when he locked eyes with his bespectacled lover and sighed, "Ok, John."

The blue eyed boy scooted closer and Dave lifted his wing to allow the boy in next to him, grabbing his hand and holding it tightly as his orange ghost tail wrapped protectively around the egg. As the tapping grew more fervent, a small series of bright orange cracks began to form in the shell. Dave squeezed John's hand tighter and jumped a bit as a piece of shell burst open to reveal tiny orange fingers. John was squirming and all but squealed as a tiny little peep came from the opening. John moved to help the little guy out but Dave restrained his hand.

"Little guy has to do it himself," Dave smirked at John, "Gotta prove he's strong enough to be a Strider."

John looked over his glasses at Dave with a smug expression but didn't seek to help any further. Soon another piece of shell was pushed out and away followed by more triumphant peeps. Suddenly the whole side of the egg cracked open and John shot his hand out to catch the little orange lump that came tumbling out with it.

It was smaller than a human baby but much larger than a baby bird. It was just as orange as it's parent, it's little tail curling reflexively around John's pinky for support. It had a set of small wings which were still covered in egg goop and it shook it's head, sending little bits of glowing gel flying from it's lighter colored hair. It turned it's little eyes up at the pair who hovered over it and John gasped. They were wide and solid red. It peeped, a little frightened at the two imposing figures above it and curled it's wings around it.

"Ohhhh," John cooed and brought it up close to his face, "It's ok little guy!"

Red eyes looked up at John, then over to Dave, then back before chirping happily and reaching it's hands out to grab at John's glasses. Dave nudged his shoulder into John and pulled him closer with his arm, enwrapping them all with his wing. Tentatively, Dave reached out an orange finger and stroked the side of the mini sprite's face, receiving a delighted chirp in response. It grabbed ahold of Dave's finger and began to gum at it absently.

"Dave," John giggled, "I think he's hungry."

"What?" Dave looked from the mini sprite to John and back again, "Oh no, I ain't chewing up no worms for the little guy."

"Here," John carefully handed the little sprite off and drew out his sylladex till he came across a banana and drew it out, peeling it open and giving a tiny piece to the eagerly chirping baby.

"Why do you have banana's?" Dave watched as his miniature version grabbed ahold of the piece and began to gum at it happily.

"Casey loves 'em," John shrugged, "So I always keep a few with me."

The little cave became quiet except for the occasional chirping for more as Dave held the little orange sprite and John broke off more bits of the mushy yellow fruit. When he'd had enough, the little guy yawned and grabbed at the feathers around Dave's neck sleepily. Dave set him up on his shoulder and the little sprite quickly burrowed in and was quickly asleep. After a few moments of watching the little baby sleep, John turned his eyes to Dave.

"Dave," John whispered excitedly, "You're a daddy!"

"Great, just what I wanted," Dave sighed, "To be a single parent. Well I guess it runs in the family."

"You don't have to be," John smiled, "I'm here."

Dave smiled back and squeezed John's hand, "Thanks, John."

"So what are you gonna name him?"

Dave looked at the little sleeping figure curled up on his shoulder, "You know, I think I'd like to name him after my brother."

"Hmm," John smiled and leaned in to kiss Dave, "I like that."

The two carefully snuggled together and drifted back off to sleep with baby Dirk snoozing happily between them.