Disclaimer: I don't own Dr. STONE. I just like it a lot. And I like my ships a lot.

Authoress' Note: So... April 16th is my birthday, and I wanted to gift myself with a fanfic. Which means all of you readers get gifted with a fanfic! Everyone wins! Please enjoy~

This is a sequel to my fic "Now you want me, but what if your heart's a liar?", particularly the 3rd chapter. So definitely read that story before you read this one! Also, I'm taking liberties with unknown story elements; I can't recall them ever discussing what happened with Suika's parents, so I'm headcanon-ing a bit here for the sake of the story. I'm still debating it, but this may become a mini-series in the future. So if the title changes, please don't be alarmed!

Adoption

"So... what does adoption mean?"

The innocent question caused the small group gathered around to eat – Senku, Chrome, Luna, Chelsea, Ukyo, Ryusui, Kaseki, and Francois – to turn their attention towards little Suika, her head tilted to one side as she delicately held a cup in her hands.

For a moment, everything was quiet, confused as to why the subject was being brought up, before realizing why it probably did. They were all discussing plans for when they were arrive back in Japan, although it was still going to be a ways off before they were reach it as they still needed to stop back in North America. One of those plans was something no one had expected to happen: Gen was going to ask Kohaku's father for the privilege to marry her.

To learn that the resident mentalist and warrior woman were in some sort of secret relationship, revealed during an emotional outburst by Gen after reviving Kohaku from the petrification, came as quite a shock to the entire group. No one had any sort of idea that there was any sort of romantic feelings at all between the two, let alone a relationship, although sometime after they had all began the trip back to North America, Hyoga slyly revealed that he had some inkling about it. He didn't reveal any details on how he had learned of it, knowing that it wasn't his place, but the blush on Gen and Kohaku's faces when it was revealed was more than enough proof of what he did know, and brought forth much teasing and commentary directed towards the couple.

During the outburst, there was a comment made about the two of them adopting Suika as their daughter, although it was something that was brushed off and forgotten about... at least until now. The subject of future plans in Japan must have brought that moment to the forefront of her mind, and now she was ever so curious about that strange new word.

"It's the process of bringing in a child that isn't related to you by blood into your family," Ukyo explained after he finished taking a bite of his meal, handing the empty bowl to Francois as they made their way around the circle collecting the discarded dishes.

"Oh, so like what we did for Soyuz when he was found?" Kaseki asked, "We took him into the village after he was found. So we adopted him?"

"Well, technically, yeah. But usually for adoption, it's with just a couple that want to become parents, not the entire village," Senku clarified with a small smirk.

Suika blinked, understanding the explanation but was still confused about the subject. "So... what does that mean? Gen said he saw the two of them adopting me..."

"Well... it sounds like that he is considering having you become their daughter," Luna answered softly, Francois providing translation for the conversation and her response, "That he wants to be your father, and Kohaku as your mother."

"Eh!? Really!?"

The cup fell from the melon girl's fingers, spilling water onto the deck, her grip on it faltering in her surprise to hear such an explanation. The crowd around her thought about that idea, looking around at one another as they tried to ponder the implications.

"Honestly, it's really a surprise that Gen even thought about such a thing. He doesn't seem like the fatherly type," Chrome commented, crossing his arms over his chest, "I mean, he has fun with the kids in the village, but that's not really being a dad, I don't think."

"Not entirely, no. It's a good aspect, though," Ukyo added, "But to see him changing diapers and being a disciplinarian? I can't imagine it."

"Yes, he reminds me much more of the fun uncle type, not a father," Ryusui added with an agreeing nod.

"Hey, that doesn't seem fair at all! I mean, I don't know him as well as you guys do, but if he's thinking about it, doesn't that mean that he can see himself as a dad?" Chelsea exclaimed, trying to defend their absent friend.

"Master Gen has many selfish attitudes, but would it be fair to say that in his outburst, he has proven to have grown somewhat from those mannerisms?" Francois also interjected, "He did proclaim his love for Master Kohaku in such a selfless way."

They were all quiet for a moment, pondering on that knowledge. "O-ho, I suppose that is true, after all," Kaseki broke the silence, "And there is also Kohaku's personality as well."

"Mm-hmm, she is very much a mother figure in her own right," Ukyo complimented, "Very protective and sweet, but is not above scolding if someone does something wrong."

"Yeah, she's always been like that," Senku remarked with a scoff, "She puts everyone else's safety and lives over her own."

"Just like a mama gorilla!" Chrome exclaimed, his words followed up by a small yelp when Ryusui gave him a short smack to the arm.

"You shouldn't call a lady such names!" the captain remarked, "But yes, agreed. Kohaku is very motherly to everyone, but especially to our little Suika."

"Yes, she is. I can't believe how fast she reacted in order to save her when she fell from the ropeway," Luna added her remarks, blushing as she thought about the event, "She's so capable and brave, that Kohaku."

As the group delved into the conversation about Gen and Kohaku's personalities, Suika just sat and listened, shaking a bit as she thought about everything that was being said. Her mind played images of the three of them together, but they carried a weight she never considered before.

Eating meals, sleeping next to one another, playing games, working alongside each other, listening to stories from the modern world... she could see it. She could see all of it. Seeing all of their smiles, and see how much they would spoil and care for her. Hearing how they compliment her when she did right, scolded her when she did something wrong, telling her that they love her. She could see all of it as clear as the sunflowers on that day she got her first pair of glasses.

"My parents... I didn't get to know them."

Attention turned to the quivering child, another bout of silence coming over the crowd.

"My mom died giving birth to me. My dad died before I was a year old. That's what the elders always told me. So I was raised by the village. And I love everyone in the village. But... sometimes I wonder what it'd be like if I had my parents," she spoke so softly, trying not to show the cracks in her voice, "If I had got to know them, and if they got to raise me. Even though everyone made sure I was never missing out on having them... I still wonder about it."

Tears started to fall down her cheeks, seen from beneath her helmet. "Do you think that they'll do it? Will they adopt me one day, and make me their daughter? Because I want that. I want to be with Gen and Kohaku forever, and I want them to be my parents. So can they do that? Will they!?"

Francois pat the child's head as she cried, while everyone looked at one another, at a loss for what to say to her. They couldn't give her such an answer; there was no way that they could. The only ones that could were-

"Hey, what's going on? Wait, Suika, why are you crying?!"

"Suika-chan, what's wrong!?"

The sounds of Gen and Kohaku's arrival broke through the crowd, the two of them looking very confused as to the situation they were seeing before them. Everyone seemed very somber besides Suika, and neither of them could come up with a reason as to why. Did everyone start to break down over what happened in South America? That was something the two of them could relate to, if that was the case, but-

Suika jumped up quickly, running towards the both of them and wrapping her arms around the two of them, burying her melon hat between the pair. "H-hey, Suika-chan, what is it? Why are you so upset?" Gen asked, kneeling down to her level as he tried to force her to look at him.

"Will you two adopt me!?"

Blink. Blink. "Eh!?"

The pair looked at her with bewildered stares; where was this coming from!? Although while Kohaku remained totally confused, Gen's lips turned into a gentle smile. "Where is this coming from all of the sudden, Suika-chan?" he asked, patting her head with a sweet gesture.

"I remembered you saying to Kohaku that you saw a future when you two adopted me. But I didn't know what that meant, and I asked what it meant."

"And what does it mean?" the huntress asked, also kneeling down to her level.

"It's when you bring a child that isn't related to you by blood into your family. Like what we did for all of the kids that lost their parents, or with Soyuz, but with two people that want to be parents."

"P-parents!?" Kohaku couldn't help but sputter and blush at the mere thought.

"I believe she's referring to what I said earlier, Kohaku-chan. When I told you the future I saw for us," Gen glanced over at her for a moment before returning his gaze back to Suika.

Suika nodded her head, and Kohaku relaxed a bit, realizing where this was coming from, cheeks still a tinge of pink. "I see... So you were wondering what that could mean, huh? When you asked if we would adopt you, you mean one day in the future?"

She nodded her head again. "Yeah... The more everyone kept talking about you two and how you would be as parents, I thought about how I didn't get to grow up with mine... and I saw how life could be with you both as my parents, and I really, really liked it. I know you both love me, and I love both of you, but it's different when you're a family, right? And what I saw was that kind of love," she explained, sniffling through her words.

Her head shot up to stare at both of them. "I promise that I'll be an amazing daughter to both of you one day, so I want you to adopt me eventually and become my parents!" she exclaimed her wish out loud, and the couple blushed and looked at one another, feeling put very much on the spot by the earnest request.

After a few seconds, they smiled at one another, wrapping their arms around Suika's frame and hugging her tightly between them.

"Okay, Suika-chan," Gen replied first.

"One day, we will," Kohaku finished their promise.

Although they couldn't see it, the child smiled as wide as she ever did, nuzzling herself between them as she returned the affection, beyond happy to have their promise etched upon her heart. The onlookers smiled at the scene, Luna and Chelsea wiping tears from their eyes as they felt so warmed in seeing the eventual family act in such a tender way.

The hug broke a few seconds later, and the three joined the group, sitting in between Senku and Chrome with Suika now sitting on Kohaku's lap, wiping the remainder of her tears with the back of her hand. Kaseki asked if she was okay, now that she got what she wanted, and she nodded in return, and again Francois patted her head as they made their way around to grab a few more discarded dishes.

The drama of the moment now settled and gone, conversation started up again, subject again being on what they were going to do next once they reached Japan. Although, this time, Suika paid little attention to it, snuggling herself up against Kohaku's chest. Her eyes fluttered closed, although no one could see it behind her lenses, and her shoulders slumped and relaxed as she started to drift off to sleep, enjoying the warmth that surrounded her and the sound of the voices echoing around her of those she loves the most. Pleasant images of the future swirled in her head, fading as unconsciousness took over, a serene smile playing her lips as she drifted through the bubbles, ending with one last thought before she finally, blissfully, fell into the void of slumber.

'I hope that one day comes soon.'

- end -