Part One: Mama's Lullaby
3. Love Starting to Crawl

It was almost three months since the new member was added to this little household, and it changed everything.

Now a baby bath and a baby bed was sitting in the master bedroom, along with a shelf packed full of diapers, bottles, baby food and toys. One shelf of their wardrobe was completely cleared out and repacked with clothes and onesies for the infants current size as well as some he'd need to grow into over next two years or so. All of the clothing items had handmade holes to comfortably accommodate the baby's tail and Margali made sure to do the sewing work on that well. She also quit her regular job in the city to be able to stay home and care for the baby, however she still would go about once a week to snap photographs for different clients that left her with enough income for that, added to Hans' pay, to be more than enough for their needs.

However managing time and personal life became more difficult; while the baby didn't seem to need much to be content and quiet, there were other factors that couldn't be avoided. While being home Margali could easily keep up with feeding and sleeping routine but she quickly realized that every time anyone asks her to hang out or wants to come over, she needs to refuse. She couldn't leave the baby alone, neither could she have someone over and risk them noticing there's a baby in the house.

How would she explain that?

So for the most part she gave up her career AND social life in order to be a mother, but she never felt any amount of regret for the decisions she made. Sometimes it almost felt like she's losing her husband too - it could appear like that for an outsider, as Hans would continue to stay on a distance and watch her pamper the child, somewhat hostile. But she knew him better than that, and she knew he's there when she needs him, he just needs more time to give the benefit of trust to this strange little boy.

She didn't try to force him to warm up to the situation, she let him take the time to see what she saw on the very first day. That they've become parents to an innocent, wonderful life.

"He's been more anxious those last couple days" she said entering the living room after putting Kurt to sleep. "Guess what, I was right about teething. A little fang popped out today."

"Fang?" he repeated. "As in sharp canine?"

"Mhm" she nodded sitting down beside him.

"..." he watched her content expression for a second before shifting to face her. "Margali, doesn't anything ALARM you about it?"

She frowned shifting her face to him. "I think I made peace with the fact that there might still be more that we don't know. It's not like I expect a baby that is already so unique to suddenly start being a textbook example of average development patterns."

The harsh edge to her tone made him give up the conversation. He exhaled with defeat and wrapped his arm around her to pull her against his chest. She rested wrapping her arms around him too.

"I know you're concerned" she whispered after a moment of him just quietly trying to enjoy the scent of her shampoo. "But he's just a baby. He's not inherently evil, no matter the tail or fangs or horns."

"Horns?!"

"That was just an example" she chuckled amused.

"...At least for now."

"Well" she whispered, still smirking despite Hans' own serious tone. "If he develops horns too I can only hope it'd go down easier than teething is."

"How you can find humor in that is beyond me."

"You would too if you were up for three nights in a row. Only finding humor in that keeps me from falling asleep on my feet."

"...You should rest" he said, and after a moment he added, slightly defeated; "If he wakes up I'll go to him. You sleep, alright?"

Hearing no response he looked down, his wife was asleep against his chest.

He smirked softly, a little sad but then again, a little satisfied too.

xXxXxXx

"Hoooney!" Hans' voice called from the living room. "He's doing it again!"

Margali peeked inside to see the blue toddler trying to climb up onto his little chubby legs using the armchair to support himself. Hans was sitting cross-legged four or five feet across from him on the carpet with a proud expression and sparkling eyes.

"You're doing awesome, Kurti!" he encouraged reaching his arms towards the little champion and wiggling his fingers. "Come on, now walk over to me…"

Margali smiled softly and rested against the doorframe. She watched the toddler take a few steps before falling and proceeding to get up again. Kurt started to crawl rather early, at about 5 months old, and another 3 months later here he was making his daddy proud as he took his first baby steps a few days ago.

When the toddler reached Hans the man lifted him up with a grin. "Yeeeey! You did it!"

"See? I knew you would grow to love him" Margali said as her husband cradled and proceeded the baby boy.

"How could I not? That's my fuzzy bundle of joy" he started to tickle the child's stomach to which he responded with giggles and attempts on capturing his fingers. "Aren't you, little Kurti? Aren't you?"

xXx

Just a week later or so Hans entered the living room after tucking in the baby for the night. His solemn expression mixed with a very curious sparkle in his eyes sparked Margali's attention, but she didn't say anything as the man joined her on the couch.

"I think he said his first word" he stated.

"Oh?" the woman lifted her eyebrows. "What did he say?"

"'Papa'" the man stated seriously but his chest swelled a little with pride.

"That just proves how much he adores you" she said giving her husband a kiss.

She couldn't help smiling. She didn't want to spoil her husbands bubble by letting him know that little Kurt already said 'mama' three days ago and repeated it twice since. She only didn't mention it because Hans was at work, but maybe it's best not to mention it at all after all and let him have this.

xXxXxXx

"Do you think we should assume Kurt's birthday?"

At his wife's question the man looked down at the toddler in his lap. "I guess so."

"Considering how old he seemed when we found him I think his first birthday could be anytime now" she wiped her hands dry with her eyes on the boy.

"Papa" the boy reached his hand out towards a plate on the table. "Am-am" he said. The man handed him another piece of soft sweet bread that the boy proceeded to stuff in his mouth.

"How about on Wednesday? I could bring some cake from the city" he said.

Margali nodded thoughtfully. "Alright. But we'll need to stick to the date every year."

"Then we will" the man smirked handing another piece to the little hand reaching towards the place urgently.

To be continued...