Panther arrived about three hours later. He'd been taking care of the mess from the fiasco and had gotten into a scuffle with one of the residents. It had been the ape he'd punched in the face two days prior, the one who had laughed at Wolf after he had found Theodosia. The scuffle hadn't ended well for the ape. Panther wouldn't say what exactly happened but he mentioned it had ended with the ape's leg being broken.

"Theodosia, hm?" Panther said as Wolf gave him the little lioness. "Yes, I recall now, it is the name they had wanted for her," Panther gently scratched the bridge of Theodosia's nose. Theodosia's eyes squeezed shut as she let out a little squeak. It sounded like an attempt at a purr, but Panther had explained lions couldn't purr like smaller felines. They made more of a "chuff" noise, and Theodosia was still too young to be able to do that. She squeaked instead and every time she did, Wolf wanted to hold her tight.

"We gotta decide what to do," Wolf began, "Do we find her a family or…"

"Wolf would like to adopt her," Leon got to the point.

Panther raised his brows, "Mmm… I figured as much that you would want to do so. The question is what is the best way to go about doing it?"

"So you're alright with it?" Wolf's mood lifted. "Really?"

"Of course I am, I mean, look at her." Panther held Theodosia up slightly. "Plus, your mood has been improved immensely since we've had her,"

"Haven't had her that long," Wolf said.

"All the more reason you being so much more of a pleasure to be around is important," Panther teased. He chuckled as Wolf gave a weak snarl, baring his teeth.

"Indeed, a pleasure," Leon said, "But we have to figure out how we're going to get what we need to take care of her. There isn't exactly a grocery store on Sargasso and we can't go planetside."

"I mean, we could go planetside, it's what we have to do to prepare for it, like who would be best suited to go and if a disguise is needed." Panther said.

"That answer is obviously you, you're the people-person here," Wolf said, "And you're easier to disguise than me or Leon,"

"How so?"

"You can cover up your scar. Leon and I can't cover up all this," Wolf gestured to his eyepatch and to Leon's entire body. "Even though everyone knows you're with Star Wolf, you've got an easier time blending in,"

"Funny considering Leon is a chameleon," Panther chuckled.

Leon shot a glare, "It does not work like that."

Panther shrugged, "Whatever, I suppose I am the "people-person" as you put it. I could travel down to Fichina and gather things… what exactly do we need?"

Wolf and Leon paused. Wolf looked at Theodosia in Panther's arms, fast asleep. She was snoring softly. What exactly did she need?

"Well, diapers for sure. And wipes," Leon said. "We've only got the one package and babies go through them quickly,"

"And you know this because…?" Panther asked.

"I had younger siblings." Leon stated.

"Ah."

"We should get more formula, though I'm not entirely sure which types she needs or can have. The one we've got I think is low iron? Maybe more of those for now," Wolf stroked the scruff of fur on his chin.

"And clothes for her? I don't want her wearing the same outfits all the time, we have to wash them, also little mittens for her hands." Panther used a finger to hold up one of Theodosia's hands. Her hand barely covered his fingertip and Wolf wanted to cry. He wanted to but he could never cry. Tears of joy or sadness, didn't matter. But Theodosia made him get close to tears he never shed.

"Why? We don't exactly have winter here. Unless you are referring to when we have to go to Fichina's surface?" Leon asked.

"There is that, yes, but also her claws will be coming in more and she will likely scratch herself. Common with felines and canines," Panther explained, giving Theodosia's hand a light squeeze and showing her tiny claws. One of her claws wasn't even a quarter of the size of Wolf's.

"Is there anything else she'd need?" Wolf asked.

"... If there is, I don't know." Panther said. "There… could be someone we could ask for help."

"And who is it you're thinking of?" Wolf had an inkling who Panther would say.

"McCloud."

Wolf let out a lengthy, over dramatic sigh. "Very funny," Wolf knew Panther wasn't joking. They'd heard Fox and Krystal had their own baby.

"Who else are we going to call? Andrew doesn't know much about babies. Falco has to know less than him, and then Slippy, while he's expecting his second child, I'm not sure where he is after Star Fox went their separate ways."

"Aquas from what I have heard, but that is farther than where Fox is. From what I hear, Fox and Krystal are still on the Great Fox." Leon chimed in.

"Understandable, Fox's mortgage on that ship from what I've heard is monstrous. Almost criminal." Panther shook his head.

"Alright, I'll give him a call," Wolf decided. "I'll invite him here. I don't want Corneria tapping us and listening."

"Why?" Panther asked.

"... I think they'd take her away." Wolf said. The way his gut churned at the thought of Corneria taking Theodosia away was beyond uncomfortable. Wolf never thought of himself as an anxious person. This made his heart race in an unfamiliar way. He'd had his fair share of panic attacks, and still had them, but this underlying, non-extreme anxiety he thought was worse. It lingered and he hated it.

"They shouldn't have the grounds to do that." Leon said.

"They don't, but we're not upstanding citizens of Lylat, are we?" Wolf reminded him.

"Are you going to call McCloud now?" Panther asked. Theodosia woke up with a sneeze. Panther made a disgusted noise as a spray of snot hit his chin and chest. Leon cackled, nearly falling to the ground. He leaned on Wolf for support. Panther wiped his chin using his shoulder.

"I could," Wolf cleared his throat to hold back his own laughter, "Give him a call now. You need a tissue?"

"She needs one," Panther looked down at Theodosia.

"You can try to teach her how but I don't think she is going to learn," Leon said, "Not now,"

"Very funny. Pass me a tissue though?" Panther extended his hand out to Leon who pulled a tissue out from his pocket and flicked it over to Panther. Panther gently dabbed it at her nose and then rubbed his chest and chin.

"They're probably busy, if they don't answer we try something else?" Wolf asked. He fiddled with his communicator. He did not want to call Fox. Following the Anglar Blitz and Krystal leaving Star Wolf and Star Fox ending all together, Wolf kept his distance. There was no point in keeping in contact when he had been in contact begrudgingly in the first place. However, he'd be lying if he said he didn't miss Krystal's company.

She was a good friend, one of the better friends Wolf had the privilege to have during his life. Krystal had been the balance they needed at the time and gave them perspectives they hadn't considered before. She had helped Wolf realize he could still make his own choices and they didn't have to be only the ones expected of him. He also learned to meditate from her. Panther was heartbroken, a little overdramatically in Wolf's opinion, about Krystal and Fox getting married but it made sense in Wolf's mind. And he knew while Panther's feelings were genuine, he fell in love easily. He hoped if Fox and Krystal both showed up that it would go over well.

Fox on the other hand, was tricky. Their relationship was tenuous at its best and sheer hatred at its worst. Wolf had been surprised when Leon accused him of getting too close to Fox during the Anglar Blitz. Wolf flat out denied it. It was true, of course, he hadn't felt like he was going soft on McCloud. But then again, something did bite at Wolf as Leon said that. Wolf respected Fox. Highly respected him. Fox was the one person who constantly kicked him down again and again and again. But more often than not Wolf would start those fights and egg Fox on.

It was safe to say Wolf's worry in Fox denying them help was there. But he knew better than that. Fox was going to help whether he liked to or not, because Fox was a good person and too selfless to the point where he was selfish. Wolf hoped Fox learned that by now given that selfish selflessness nearly cost his relationship with Krystal.

"You don't want to, do you?" Leon asked, deadpan.

"I really don't." Wolf typed in The Great Fox's communications number. Wolf huffed as his thumb hovered over the call button. "I really do not want to."

"Too bad," Leon reached and tapped the call button. Wolf glared at him as he shrugged. "Get it out of the way so we can prepare for their arrival and not have a skirmish break out."

Wolf opened his mouth to retort when the line went green.

"Hello? Who is this?" Fox's voice came from the communicator.

"Hey…" Wolf forced.

"Wolf?!"

"Yeah, yeah, don't sound too surprised, pup," Wolf nearly spat. Leon lightly smacked Wolf's arm. Behave. Wolf scoffed and then sighed. "Look, I need a favor,"

"You want me to hold still so you can shoot me right in the skull?" Fox never missed a beat.

"I'm being serious. It's…" Wolf trained his eye on Theodosia. "But I can't go into too much detail over communications,"

"Why?"

"He's paranoid," Panther spoke up. He chuckled as Wolf growled at him.

"Eh, I can get that," Fox said, "I don't know, though. I don't like going in blind with you three. I don't want to end up with some gang's hands around my throat,"

"It's got nothing to do with anything illegal," Wolf said. He forgot how much of a pain Fox was. "I'm being serious, really."

"Hmm…" Fox hummed. Faint noises and whispers could be heard on the other side of the line. He was likely talking to Krystal. Or he was holding his own baby. A sigh, "Alright, I'm guessing we're not meeting in public?"

"Bring the Great Fox over to Sargasso Space, we'll fly over to ya and discuss there," Wolf said.

"Why not just have us fly over to you from the Great Fox?"

"You think my people are gonna wanna see you?"

"Mmm, good point," Fox said. There was the slightest hint of guilt in his voice and Wolf couldn't help but feel satisfaction in that. "Okay, Krystal and I are actually nearby, so…? See you in about two hours?"

"Errr, yeah sure." Wolf shrugged. "See you soon,"

"Bye," The line went red.

Wolf deflated as he exhaled, "Honestly that went better than I thought it would,"

"It's because you refrained from instigating," Leon said.

"Me? Instigate? Nah, never," Wolf said. He held out his arms towards Panther.

"What?" Panther asked.

"Give me the baby," Wolf said, "... Please,"

"Your effort in politeness is valiant," Panther gave Theodosia to Wolf. Theodosia whined and squirmed a bit before resettling in Wolf's arms.

"Very funny," Wolf said dryly, the majority of his attention on Theodosia. He soothed her by rubbing the back of her head with a light touch. Theodosia yawned and opened her eyes. They were bleary and wet. Wolf didn't know if she was about to cry or if her eyes were like that. He found out babies were… leaky? He didn't know how else to put it.

Wolf looked up and curved his lip up in confusion. "What?"

"Nothing," Leon said. There was awe in his eyes as well as Panther's.

"Nothing at all," Panther echoed.

"Alright, we should prepare the Wolfens then? It's a super short trip but-" Wolf began to make his way towards the hangar.

"Erm, she can't sit in a seat and we can't hold her in our hands while flying," Panther said, "Perhaps it would be best to find a way for her to travel safely, Cap'n?"

"Don't start that 'cap'n' shit with me again," Wolf said half-heartedly. "And what do we do? Not like I've got a spare baby seat lying around,"

"Hm… I've got an idea," Leon said, ambling over to his room for a moment before returning with a longer piece of cloth. Leon took Theodosia from Wolf and gave her back to Panther, "Arms out," He said. Wolf huffed loudly and did as he was told. Leon wrapped the cloth around and made a homemade baby sling. "There. Put her in."

Panther put Theodosia into the sling. Wolf made sure to stand up tall. He kept one arm under her, to be safe.

"Does it feel tight enough?" Leon asked as he fiddled with the baby sling.

"Feels like it, don't think she'll fall," Wolf said. He dropped his arm down and took a few steps forward. "Yeah, this should be good… nice job,"

"Thank you," Leon said. "You certainly look like a father now,"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, nothing," Leon chuckled. "But you might as well go out like this, it's disguise enough. I don't think our residents will recognize you,"

"I'm more worried about what they're gonna say," Wolf admitted, "The majority of the people here are mercenaries and outlaws like us with no real loyalties,"

"We'll get there when we get there, right now she is our focus," Panther said, giving Wolf a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

Wolf nodded and made his way to the elevator. "They're gonna be pissed when McCloud shows up,"

"Yep." Panther said, "But they also can stay out of our business. They don't like it when we pry about theirs,"

"Mm, true," Leon said.

The elevator creaked down towards the hangar. Wolf checked the time. They had about an hour and a half before Fox and Krystal arrived. The anxiety in Wolf resurfaced, his gut churning and chest tightening. What for? This was Fox McCloud, someone he'd never been afraid of in his entire existence knowing him.

"What are you worried about?" Leon broke the silence.

"I'm not worried," Wolf lied.

"You are worried," Leon stated.

"I dunno, I'm because I am, now stop asking," Wolf growled.

"Fine. When you're ready, talk to us," Leon said firmly. And that was that. The rest of the trip down was silent. Wolf was grateful for it because it meant no more questioning, but he hated it because it made his anxiety much louder.

The doors of the elevator opened to the hangar. Wolf sighed. "Let's get this over with,"