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"Heads up!" 17-year-old Simon yelled, passing a ball to Dante. Dante caught the ball and weaved around Duncan, and scored a goal for Simon and himself. The three eldest grandsons had gotten Alister's athletic build while Virgil had gotten Kaden's smaller build.
Virgil sat apart from his brother and cousins, just to watch the game and avoid injury. The 14-year-old was approached by his usual companions, his cousin Pax and technical aunt Nessa. Pax sat down next to him. "What's the score?"
"Heck if I know." Virgil groaned.
Nessa shrugged her shoulders, standing behind them. "Aren't you supposed to be keeping score for them?"
"Supposed to and actually are, are different things." Virgil smiled at Nessa. "Plus Simon probably knows."
Pax nodded. "Yeah, like older siblings are supposed to take care of everything."
"Okay, Paxxy." Nessa teased.
The dark grey lombax stuck her tongue out at Nessa. "Don't call me that." Pax frowned at Nessa and gently pushed her. "Little Nessa."
Virgil sighed and looked at them. "It is so obvious that I'm older than you two." He put his hands behind his head. "With age comes wisdom."
Pax smiled at Nessa, and the girls tackled Virgil over. Simon, Dante, and Duncan all stopped to see their scoreboard in a heap under a couple of silly girls. "Foul!" Simon called. "No tackling the scoreboard."
Dante grinned at Duncan and Simon. "Let the little ones have their fun, guys. We all know how short their attention spans are."
Duncan crossed his arms. "And how short they are." He chuckled to his twin and Simon. "You know what I would like to see? Them actually try and beat us in a game."
"That's not fair." Virgil pulled himself from under Pax and Nessa. "You three are built like Guards."
Simon lifted his hand to his ear. "Sounds like we're scared."
"As if." Pax lounged on the ground. "Like I'd be scared of cream, blank and coloring book."
Simon frowned. "Cream?"
"Blank?" Dante looked at Duncan.
Duncan charged and pulled Pax off the ground. "If I'm a coloring book, then so are you." He messed up Pax's hair, much against her protest. "Cause you got the Watt look, just like me."
"Let me go, Duncan!" Pax screamed. "You're such a pain!"
Duncan bounced Pax around, teasing her. "Why don't you call for your Mom?" He tossed Pax around to entertain himself and Dante. "I'm not scared of Aunt Celeste."
"Oh really?" Celeste walked up to the field. "You may not fear me but I'm in league with your mother." She smiled at her darling nephews.
Duncan dropped Pax behind him, and he smiled wide. "Hey, Aunt Celeste." Dante joined Duncan in trying to hide Pax. "We weren't doing anything."
Pax sat on the ground, rubbing her butt. Getting 'rescued' by her mother was the last thing she wanted. Nessa swiftly approached Celeste. "They really weren't playing fair, Celeste. Dante and Duncan double-teamed her."
"Did not!" The twins echoed, approaching their aunt. "Nessa is lying."
Pax raised a hand to her ear. "Anyone else hear an echo?"
"Pax, be nice." Celeste teasingly scolded her daughter. "You know they can't help it." She turned to Nessa. "How do you think, little miss, your Dad would feel about you skipping lessons to watch your cousins play?" Nessa shrunk away from Celeste. "And boys," she narrowed on Dante and Duncan. "Be nice to Pax, she got some of her dad's sensitivity."
Dante and Duncan smiled at Pax, who glared daggers at her own mother. Celeste made the kids break up their game as dinner was ready. Pax avoided her mother, sticking to Nessa and Virgil.
Family dinners were always interesting, especially since in the past decade their family nearly exploded in size. Pax had gained two uncles (Onix and Edmund), six cousins (Peter, Izzy, Burr, Timber, Olive, and Bella) and a brother (Alex). Virgil got an aunt (Crystal) an uncle (Daniel), an almost uncle (Issac), and six cousins (Douglas, Lucy, Ana, Ellie, Lilly, and Stanley). Nessa just got a sister-in-law named Tiffany who married Mac.
Nessa was helping her aunt Kori set the table when she heard her father and brother talking. "Hey Mac," Montay started. "Don't take this the wrong way but are you and Tiffany planning on having kids?"
Mac laughed. "Nah. Tiffany, you know, doesn't want kids. And we're pretty busy right now, addicted to work." He said to Montay. "Don't have to worry about any more grandkids, Dad."
"Having more grandkids wouldn't bother me," Montay chuckled. "I'm just curious about what you kids are planning for your future."
Mac sighed. "Yeah, no. No grandkids from me." He laughed again. "Maybe you can convince Grace to have another kid."
"Not after Dante and Duncan." Montay laughed. "No more kids for them either."
Mac forced a laugh. "Not Nessa for a while."
"No," Montay said sternly. "Not for hopefully a long while, I probably won't be around when she has kids."
Mac sighed. "You're going to be here for a long time, Dad. You and Leigh are going to be in Nessa's wedding and get to hold her first baby."
"Let's be realistic, Mac." Montay took a breath. "I'm not as young as I was when you were 13. I never want to leave you, Grace, Nessa, or Leigh. But that time will come, sooner rather than later."
A vice tightened around Nessa's chest. Tears filled her eyes as the thought of her father dying entered her heart. She quickly evaded her father and brother as they exited the kitchen, sat down the dish she was supposed to bring to the table, and exited the house herself. Nessa sat outside on the ground to think about her thoughts. How long would she have left with her parents? How old would she be when she would be orphaned? How could she go on without them?
Pax found Nessa's dish, looked around before she just brought the dish herself. Everyone began to sit down, and the adults attempted to wrangle their children into behaving. Ian told his three daughters (Ana, Ellie, and Lilly) to sit down or no dessert. Liza praised her darling son Stanley on behaving. Hugh, Douglas, and Lucy sat in between their fathers, on their best behavior (as George always gave them a small treat if they behaved at family dinner). Pax sat next to her brother Alex, who was 6 and dreaded anything her father might do to attempt to be funny. Onix and Genie pretty much wrestled with her cousins Burr, Timber, Olive, and Bella just to get them at the table. Peter and Izzy did exactly as their mother Harper said.
Leigh looked around and noticed one face was missing. "Where is Nessa?" She asked, concerned.
Mac raised his hand. "I'll go find her." He got up, told Grace to watch his food so no children stole his food, and gave the house a general search for his younger sister. When he didn't find her in the house he extended his search to outside, and it was there he found her. "Hey, kid. What are you doing out here?" When he heard her sniffling he sat down next to Nessa, serious. "Tell me who did it and I'll pound them for you."
Nessa rubbed her nose on her sleeve. "No such luck." She rubbed her eyes, frowning. "I heard you and Dad talking."
"Ah," Mac frowned. "That delightful conversation." He wrapped his arm around Nessa, trying to smile. "Sorry I can't help you get more nieces and nephews."
Nessa shook her head. "Not that, Malcolm." She took a deep breath. "I don't want Mom and Dad to die." Fresh tears ran down her face, and Mac gently rubbed them away, his smile fading away. "As stupid as it sounds I want them to live forever."
Mac tried to smile for Nessa. "That's not stupid, because I'm right there with you." He hugged her tight. "But that's just how the universe works. We are born, we live, and then we die."
"I know." Nessa frowned, leaning on Mac. "But how soon will they die? How will we survive without them?"
Mac sighed and squeezed Nessa a little bit. "I can't answer how soon, hopefully, a really really long time but Nessa we will survive." He kissed her head. "It will hurt for a long while but the world will continue, and the best part is you won't be alone."
"But…" Nessa sniffled. "I can't imagine life without them."
Mac smiled sadly. "You don't have to. They're still here and they're waiting for you at the dinner table." He touched Nessa's nose. "Speaking of which our lovely nephews probably have eaten all the food."
"Our Dante and Duncan?" Nessa smiled again. "Grace wouldn't let them."
Mac shrugged. "They're crafty." He lightly elbowed Nessa. "Feeling better?"
"Surprisingly, yeah." Nessa nodded. "Not 100% but better."
Mac let her go and slowly stood. "It's a work in progress, but we'll get there." He pulled Nessa up and together they went back to the house. Nessa took her place between her parents while Mac sat back next to Grace. Everyone had started eating and Mac's plate was empty. "Hey, who stole my food?" He looked at Grace. "What happened to not letting children get my food?"
Grace shrugged while Dante and Duncan told Mac how good the food was. Little Ana smiled at Mac. "We were hungry, Uncle Mac."
Mac frowned. "And I'm not?"
Leigh smiled. "Okay, let's give Mac his plate back."
Montay pulled the plate off his lap and handed it to Mac. Mac stuck his tongue out at his family. "You all stink." He sat at his place and ate his food.
Ana looked at Ian. "Did I do good, Daddy?"
Ian gave his eldest a thumbs up. Crystal gently hit Ian on the stomach. "Don't encourage lying." She playfully scolded her husband.
"Acting." Ian smiled. "Not lying, acting."
Edmund shrugged. "There is, apparently, a difference."
Tiffany rushed into the house and up behind her husband, several bags in hand. "I'm so late." She looked up at everyone. "Sorry, had some problems at work that needed fixing before I left." Tiffany put down her bags and smiled. "Any space for me?"
"Naturally." Mac smiled back, moving over so there was a gap between himself and Grace.
Grace pulled up a chair from behind her and Lance. "Et Tu, Malcolm?" She smiled at her brother.
"Would I rather sit next to my darling wife instead of my conspiring sister?" Mac shrugged and looked at Tiffany. "Yes, very much so."
Virgil snickered. "It was Dante and Duncan's idea."
"Was not!" The twins exclaimed.
Grace frowned at her sons. "Inside voices."
The twins rolled their eyes and went back to their food. Claire looked to her sons. "No stirring the pot." She pointed her fork at Virgil and Simon. "Just wait until your father gets home."
"In six months," Simon muttered.
The table fell silent as all eyes turned to Claire. She took a couple of deep breaths and closed her eyes, her silverware back on the table. "Please excuse me," she whispered as she exited the room.
"Good job, Simon." Virgil huffed and hit his brother's arm. Simon retaliated with a wallop to the back of Virgil's head. Ratchet open his mouth to scold the boys when Pax stood up.
"Stop fighting ladies, you're both pretty." Pax hollered over the boys. The boys stopped and turned to their cousin.
Simon glared at Pax. "What did you call me?"
"Alright, enough." Ratchet commanded. He looked to Pax. "Thank you, Pax. You may return to your seat." The girl curtsied and sat back down while Ratchet turned to Simon. "Simon, go apologize to your mother."
Simon frowned at his grandfather. "Why? It's not like it's not true." He huffed. "He spends more time away then he does here."
"Not by choice." Kori scolded. "Your father is protecting the universe, he is protecting our family. And back before it was your father, your grandpa Ratchet did the same thing." She sighed. "And maybe someday you'll take the job after your father."
Simon rolled his eyes and leaned back in his seat. "I still don't see why I have to apologize."
"Because," Rolin spoke up. "Your mother knows how you feel. Back when she was your age it was her dad going out to save the universe."
Kori nodded in agreement. "And he may be your father but he is also her husband and best friend." She frowned at her grandsons, her hand on Ratchet's. "She understands the risks your father takes, but she accepts them as I did."
"And there is no true guarantee that your father will always come back." Ratchet frowned. "Every time he goes out there, there is a possibility that he will fail."
Celeste looked at her children and husband. "And that is a terrifying reality to have to face at least once to three times a year."
"Your grandfather," Kori smiled sadly, "missed the first 7 months of your Aunt Rosie's life. He missed her being born and everything. And your father missed several months of your mother's pregnancy with Virgil."
Franklin nodded. "She even hid her pregnancy with Virgil so no one but Orion knew she was pregnant at all." He smiled. "But to suddenly get a call from your mother telling you that 'surprise! Your sister is pregnant but you only have 3 months to get the new baby a gift because that's when the baby is coming.'."
"Yeah," Zeon laughed. "One morning she comes out to breakfast heavily pregnant when the day before she looked quite normal." He shook his head. "And she acted as if nothing had happened."
Claire's voice drifted in. "Virgil moved a lot too." Everyone looked up to see Claire smiling and leaning in the door frame. "The one time his movement caught me off guard was when Mom found me out."
"I don't like to be ignored." Virgil smiled.
Claire came in and sat back down. "Even then." Simon opened his mouth to speak but his mother stopped him. "Simon, you have every right to be upset but we have to remember that your father doesn't do his job because he loves glory or fame." She shook her head. "His favorite part is always coming back to us."
"Got that right." All eyes when back to the doorway where Orion stood. Claire, Simon, and Virgil all jumped from their seats to tackle Orion. "Were you all talking about me?" He smiled to his family, his arm wrapped around Claire and held her close to him.
Claire kissed his cheek. "All good things, I promise."
Orion laughed and kissed Claire for a moment before he looked to his sons. "I hope you two were good for your Mom." Simon and Virgil looked at each other before putting on their best smiles for their father.
"A discussion for later." Kori jumped up, smiling. "Come and have something to eat, Orion." She went to the kitchen to get him a plate.
Orion nodded. "More than gladly." Another chair was added to the table next to Claire.
"Uncle Orion," 9-year-old Douglas smiled at Orion. "Are you going to tell us about your adventure?"
George smiled at his second son. "Let him get settled first, Dugger."
"Your dad is right," Orion smiled. "Besides this one was a good one, we best wait until it can be told around the fire."
Alex jumped up from his seat, a big grin on his face. "With s'mores?" The rest of the children started chattering in excitement.
"If moms and dads allow." Orion nodded to his fellow adults.
Genie smiled. "Thanks, Orion." Genie put her hands onto the heads of her bouncing 7 and 5-year-old sons. Onix snickered at his wife.
The children kept chattering, begging their parents to let them have s'mores for Orion's story after the sun had finally set. Ratchet eventually got the children to stop so their meal could be more peaceful, but the little ones still buzzed with excitement. Except for 2-year-old Lilly, and 1-year-old Bella who were both too young to understand the gravity of the situation.
Because s'mores. Come on.
When the meal finally concluded dishes were collected and taken to the kitchen. Almost everyone was helping in the kitchen when a sudden crash caused Leigh, Claire, and Kori to rush to the dining room.
Holding her head and kneeling on the floor was Tiffany. "Tiffany!" Leigh rushed to her daughter-in-law's side. "Are you alright? What happened?"
Kori and Claire quickly retreated to the kitchen to get Mac. Tiffany smiled weakly and shook her head. "I'm fine, just a little lightheaded." She took a few deep breaths. "I guess I stood up too quickly."
"Do you need to go to the hospital?" Leigh asked, gently helping Tiffany to her feet again.
Mac rushed into the room and to Tiffany. "Tiff, are you okay?" He took her hands and looked her over. "Do we need to call an ambulance?"
"I'm fine, really," Tiffany smiled at Mac and Leigh. "I was just a little lightheaded, I just need to rest for a little bit and it will be like nothing happened."
Leigh frowned. "Sweetheart, you collapsed. I believe it best we take you to the hospital." Leigh looked sternly at Mac.
"Yeah, Tiff." Mac agreed. "Leigh's right."
Tiffany smiled sadly. "Before you go dragging me off to the hospital, there is something I need to tell you." She gently led Mac to Claire and Orion's bedroom, Tiffany sat at the foot of the bed and Mac closed the door.
Mac took a deep breath and sat on the bed next to Tiffany. "Okay, what do you need to tell me?"
"I just want to preface this with I know how you feel about kids." Tiffany kept her eyes low as she took Mac's hands. "You want them but you think we should wait until later."
Mac blinked and rubbed Tiffany's hands with his thumbs. "Yeah, and I know you want them soon."
"Well…" Tiffany sniffled. "We can't wait anymore."
Mac's face fell. "Tiff….you don't mean…."
"Yep." Tiffany smiled weakly. "I'm pregnant."
Mac broke into a smile. "Really? You're not playing with me?" He took her face in his hands. "Please tell me you're not messing with me."
"I promise." Tiffany laughed. "To be honest this is not the reaction I was expecting."
Mac grinned from ear to ear. "I know but I don't care." He felt like screaming but he only allowed himself to bounce. "We're having a baby!" Mac covered Tiffany's face in kisses. "Do you know how far along you are?"
Tiffany gave her best smile. "12 weeks."
"12?" Mac blinked. "That's 3 months, how long have you known?"
Tiffany hummed. "At least a month?"
"A month?" Mac gasped. "You kept our child a secret for a month?"
Tiffany sighed and put Mac's hands on her stomach. "I didn't know how you would react, I expected you to be upset or freaking out." She smiled at Mac. "You kept telling me when I asked that you didn't want kids yet. That we just need to wait longer."
"That's not true though," Mac smiled. "I've wanted kids since before we got married."
Tiffany kissed Mac. "My secret was a month, yours was 7 years."
"Has it been that long already?" Mac laughed. "It doesn't feel that like it has been that long."
Tiffany kissed Mac again. "It has. When do you think we made our baby?"
"Oh, right." Mac smiled and wrapped his arms around Tiffany. "I remember."
Nessa and Pax, on the other side of the door, made unsettled faces at each other. The two girls tried to be extra quiet so they wouldn't get caught but Leigh came around the corner and found the two girls. She frowned at her daughter and great niece. "May I ask what you two are doing?"
"Nothing." Nessa smiled innocently at her mother. "Just… hanging around."
Pax smiled innocently too. "Yeah, Aunt Leigh. We weren't up to anything."
Leigh nodded for a moment before she knocked on the door to Claire and Orion's room. Nessa and Pax looked at each other before taking off running. When Mac opened the door Leigh smiled. "I do hope I'm not interrupting but I found a couple of ears listening on the other side of the door for you."
"Really?" Mac smirked. "Which ears do I have to hunt down?"
Leigh smiled. "Darling Nessa and Pax. They couldn't have made it too far." She looked past Mac and looked at Tiffany. "I'm sure you feel better by now but I still want to get you checked out."
"Probably a good idea." Tiffany smiled. "But we have to talk to some ears first."
Mac exited the room. "I'm on it." He moved past Leigh and called out for his prey. "Nessa Azimuth! Pax Azimuth! Come here right now!"
Zeon's head popped out of the kitchen. "What has my daughter done now?" His face a mix of annoyance and amusement.
"Hopefully nothing but I need to talk to her." Mac sighed. "She might know something she's not supposed to know."
"Well," Zeon smiled. "I heard a commotion pass by here not too long ago and I heard the back door open."
Mac nodded. "Thank you, I'm off." Mac followed the hallway to the back door and exited the building.
But as he was leaving he heard Zeon shout, "Good hunting!"
Mac kept an eye out but he realized the reason Lombaxes lived on Fastoon. Oranges and browns hid well in a desert location. It was until he remembered that, like his darling nephew Duncan, Pax had dark grey fur. Unlike Nessa's honey-colored fur, Pax stuck out like a sore thumb. So if the girls were going to hide, they had to find a hiding place big enough to hide both of them, dark enough to hide Pax but light enough that Nessa wouldn't stick out. And out of the sun so they could hide there for an extended time without getting heat stroke.
Mac stood quietly and he heard deep breathing. He listened and followed the breathing, using his big ears, to a medium-sized structure that should not have been capable of breathing. Mac knocked on the structure and the breathing fell instantly silent. "If it's Nessa and Pax in there, it's Mac. And I need to talk to you two."
"We didn't hear nothing!" Nessa's voice came from the structure.
Pax's voice came next. "You're the worst at hiding ever."
"Come out, girls." Mac stepped back. "Tiffany and I need to have a nice talk with you two."
Pax came out first, followed closely by Nessa. Nessa smiled widely at her brother. "I promise, Mac and Cheese. We didn't hear anything."
"Right," Mac said, unconvinced. "Come on, darling girls." He wrapped an arm around each girl and led them back to the room where Tiffany was waiting, past Leigh. "Give us a minute, Mom," Mac told Leigh as he closed the door.
Tiffany smiled. "Alright, kitties, spill." She stood next to Mac and they both crossed their arms.
"Well." Pax sat on the bed, giving a smart ass smirk. "You guys celebrated your wedding anniversary by having-"
"Okay, forget that." Mac stopped her. "I don't need to know I accidentally scarred my kid sister and niece." He sighed and looked at the two girls. "Anything else?"
Nessa smiled and clapped her hands. "I'm going to be an aunt again."
"That's what we're looking for." Mac took a deep breath. "Luckily you both know how to keep a secret, so we need you both to be under a vow of absolute silence."
Nessa slumped, a pout pointed at Mac. "Absolute silence?" She crossed her arms, frowning deeply. "It's not fair."
"Neither is listening outside the door of a private conversation." Mac frowned. "I need you to not tell a soul." He ran a finger along his mouth. "Not a soul."
Nessa heaved a sigh. "Fine."
Pax shrugged. "Fine."
"Good girls." Tiffany smiled.
Thanks so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed it! Remember, reviews save lives lol. See you next time! Bye!
