Ratchet nervously twiddled his thumbs, glancing sideways at the clock on the microwave. The bright green 2:36 taunting him with every passing moment. He sighed dejectedly, knowing that he really ought to go back to bed. Ever since they found out Rivet's nightmares were being caused by her pregnancy they hadn't been as bad, but they could still wake her up at any moment and he'd never forgive himself if he wasn't there for her if she did.

But at the same time, he almost dreaded going back into their bedroom. His own sleep times had been dwindling in recent days at an almost inverse rate to hers. With every passing day, a new growing ever more real fear crept more and more to the fore in his mind.

What kind of father would he be? Could he ever hope to be a good one? The kind he knew the child would deserve?

He was sure this was an understandable fear, surely something every, not just father, but parent to be has to contend with. He had talked about it with Rivet, and she had been her usual amazing and supportive self, assuring him that he'd be a wonderful father. But that didn't stop the doubt. What else was she supposed to say after all? Just come out and say 'You'll be a horrible father'?

No, she would never do that. Instead he was left to lose sleep, staring at the clock for longer and longer intervals every night.

Kaden yawned, long and slow while he rolled his neck and shoulders. He really had to spring for a new bed if he was going to stay here at the garage like Ratchet and Rivet had asked him to. He certainly wasn't going to say no, especially not with a grandchild on the way, but damn was it taking a toll on his back now. He shuffled into the kitchen and found the odd sight of his son, brooding over a glass of water while he stared at the clock on the microwave. Oddly enough, it was a sight he had somewhat expected to come across at some point. He was in a place Kaden was all too familiar with after all. The young lombax didn't notice his presence until he pulled out the chair across from him at the table, making Ratchet jump.

"Whoa- Dad? What're you doing up?" He kept his voice down just in case.

"I could ask you the same thing. I'm sure Rivet's awfully cold in that bed all by herself." He smiled softly as he sat down.

Ratchet's gaze dropped, now focused on the glass in front of him. "Yeah. Yeah, I know. I just…"

"You can't sleep, not when your hand keeps holding hers on the baby bump." Kaden finished for him. The way Ratchet tensed up told him he was right. He continued. "Not when all you can think about is the kid on the way. Are you good enough? Will your enemies come to pay a visit or even worse target them to get to you?"

"You dealt with it too when mom was pregnant?" There was the faintest glimmer of hope in his son's voice, that maybe he wasn't completely alone in his fears. Kaden nodded.

"Ohhhh yes. I may not have been as big a hero as you, but I made my fair share of enemies in my day. Not to mention that same fear, repeating on loop in your head right now. Did you talk about it with her?"

"Yeah, and she… well, she gave the 'standard response' I guess is the best way to put it. Telling me that I'm caring and kind, that I'll be a great father…" He trailed off.

"And you don't believe her?"

"I don't know. I know I want to, but something in my head and my chest keeps making me doubt what she said."

"I get that. I really do." Kaden hunched forward in his chair, resting on the table. "So let me ask you, what are you afraid will happen if you aren't good enough?"

Ratchet glanced up from the table to lock eyes with his father, clearly unsure of how he should answer the question if at all. Kaden simply waited, knowing he'd find the words.

"I… I'm afraid that they'll hate me. That they'll go down the wrong path, end up as a pirate or something somewhere. Or that they'll hurt themself while I'm watching them, then I have to explain to Rivet why our kid is missing an eye now."

"Ok. Now, say all of that happens. Would that make you love them any less?"

Ratchet reeled at the question, but he only hesitated for a moment. "No, of course not."

Kaden relaxed back into his seat. "Then you'll already be the best father you can be. Not out of a sense of responsibility, but out of love. That's where all those fears come from. Because what's growing inside of her right now is a bundle of unknowns and potential that you already love more than life itself. So you sit here and wonder how to direct and shape that potential, when the truth is; if you raise that child every day with that love in your heart then it'll all work out fine."

Ratchet stared at him, eyes unwavering as he chewed on those words before drawing a deep breath. His muscles seemed to relax a bit as he did. "I think you're right."

"More like your mother was right when she told me that. But for right now, we'll just consider it a bit of fatherly advice." Kaden smiled at him. Ratchet stood from his chair.

"I should get back to bed. Any more advice before I go?"

"Start saving bolts now. Lombax babies are among the cutest in the galaxy, so you'll be getting that kid anything they want." Ratchet chuckled at the joke before adjourning himself with a 'will do.'

Kaden sat there at the table a few moments longer, pondering the first words that had come to mind when Ratchet had asked him that. He pulled out Ratchet's PDA and left a message for him to read when he woke up before heading back to bed himself.

One last thing:

Do better than me