"Well, just the whole fact that my life really has changed completely from what it was before. I'm not exactly normal compared to my family anymore.", Tristan paused. "Aw, jeez, how am I going to explain this one to them? Being out of contact with them for so long that they're probably worried sick... and if we get back; I'm not truly human anymore.".
Esme kissed him reassuringly, "You can still size-shift, my love. We can't expose the village or anything...But we can tell them that we came upon another piece of Quantonium that caused you to be like me and Phillippe...We just leave the rest out of it including Papa being pregnant and all...".
"Yeah, I suppose you're right about that. Already, I can tell that this place should have as little contact with the surface as possible. It's like the whole Sentinelese group in the Bay of Bengal, you know? Like an ancient tribe uncontacted by civilization and all. This should remain the same.", Tristan paused. "Sort of a shame though, this place would be perfect for our thesis and all that in college.".
Esme blinked in thought, "Maybe we don't actually have to tell the truth for the thesis...I mean, we could do an original thesis on our dream paradise of a sort. Original to each one of us, to be specific.",
"After all, you've always talked about creating places on the inhabited islands for the homeless of the world, Tristan.", Esme smiled warmly.
"That is true.", Tristan chuckled as he kissed her once more. "Of course, the thesis might be considered out there in terms of life down here, but the Quantonium core, maybe not. After all, would explain a bit better with earlier life being so large.".
Esme nodded, "I could see your point of explaining it easier, but I think that is technically shorter for a thesis..I mean, a serious version of a thesis takes up to 500 words. And besides, I have the feeling that Doc is prone to explaining Quantonium to the smartest minds on the surface. Look, we're looking at environmental biology classes and such, right? Imaging our dream paradise around that, that could explain our passion, you know?".
"Yeah, I know. I guess I'm just thinking a bit too far ahead, you know. Phillippe, er, Lionheart, whichever way we should call him, always said we thought too much of the future without thinking as much for the present.".
Esme nodded, "He's right about that...We have plenty of time to go to college, but now, we got my papa, a sister-in-law, and perhaps her mother expecting. We gotta support them no matter what, and we will have a way back, Tristan, we just have to be patient, that's all.".
"I know. You just wish sometimes it would all go by a bit faster at times.", Tristan chuckled as he gave her another kiss on the tip of her nose.
Esme smiled warmly as she cuddled up close to Tristan, putting her head on his laying shoulder, "Well, time tends to fly faster when we're not thinking about it.", before giving out a little yawn, "You're perfect to be a pillow.".
"I aim to please, love.", Tristan kissed her once more as he gently wrapped his hands around her body. "I hope no one will miss us until morning, I just want to stay here with you and enjoy the night.".
Esme giggled, "We're not that far from the village, we can find our way back easy enough in the morning, and besides, my parents had been here for the past four days. They managed just fine, so we will be fine ourselves too.", giving out another yawn, "Good night, Tristan.".
"Good night, Esme.", Tristan kissed her once more as the two of them drifted to sleep, cuddled in each other's arms.
Time passed, and it's now two weeks later when in the early morning hours, there is a new sound approaching the Earth's core, and the source of the sound is in the sinkhole from the surface world.
In the sinkhole, there's a hot air balloon carefully moving downwards, the basket occupied by Doc, Link, and B.O.B., along with two inventions Doc had made up over the last two weeks; an antenna shooter where multiple antenna spikes were fired every 20 feet down the sinkhole in the walls evenly, and a teleporter platform which has qualities of shrinking down to mini size of a baseball home plate and growing up to giant size of a swimming pool.
The antenna spikes are helping in the aid of communication via videophone wristwatches on Doc and Link for General Monger is on the other side, up on the surface.
"Are we there yet?", B.O.B. complained about yet another time as they kept going down, annoying his two other passengers of the balloon with him.
"B.O.B. we'll get there when we get there!", Link shouted at him as he was just so tired of hearing that.
Doc rolled his eyes, and shot off another antenna, landing perfectly with a punch, and glanced at the wristwatch, "Another one in, General.".
Monger nodded, "Yes, well done. I can see that you are quite close. Another 30 minutes, you'd be exiting the sinkhole.", glancing to the side at another computer with the data map of the sinkhole, thanks to the high-tech scanner they used earlier.
"I lost track of how much time it's taken us to get down here.", Link groaned as he leaned against the small wall of the basket. "I think it would've just been better for me to jump down like the others. Less time and all.".
Doc looked at Link, "You don't have Quantonium, Link. And you saw the data map of this sinkhole. We don't know what's down there until we get out from the end of the sinkhole, so chances are that you couldn't have survived the crash landing unless there was something to stop the fall.".
B.O.B. nodded, "Yeah, you're my best friend, Link!", a smile on his face, and Link smiled lightly before B.O.B asked again, "When are we getting there?".
Link rubbed his face with a groan, "We'll get there when we're there, B.O.B.", and Doc sighed lightly, "I hope our friends are alright.".
Meanwhile, deep in the village, in the main hut, in one of the rooms, Robert and Susan are sleeping. With the free-loving activity, Robert is almost four months along from the looks of it. Behind them in order, is Silvergrace is 3 months and a couple days over, and Stormfire is 3 months straight.
It was wonderful when the day after the feast, Thunderwolf was able to smell his mate's hormones of pregnancy, and the family congratulated them. Anyway, unknown to the parents, the babies are now more than developed to have their genders. Robert's expecting a boy and a girl, Silvergrace's expecting a girl, and Stormfire's expecting a boy.
Wanting breakfast early, the twins decide to surprise Robert by giving out their first kicks. Robert startled out of his sleep, dazed and confused, "What the?", before feeling another couple of sharp kicks, and Robert's mind cleared up as he gasped with a sob, watching his baby bump with anxiety, wanting to be sure that he isn't dreaming, "Hello?".
Another couple of kicks answered him, and Robert gave out a loud laugh, rubbing his baby bump, tears falling. "Sue, Sue, wake up.", he gently nudged his wife awake as he kept rubbing his belly.
Susan groaned lightly, "Robert? It's too early, sun's not up yet.", and Robert nudged Susan a bit more, "Susan, wake up! They kicked!".
Susan immediately shot up upon hearing that from his lips before she turned to look at him. "Feel it.", Robert told her to touch his belly.
Susan reached over to touch Robert's baby belly, and Robert spoke warmly, "Kick for your mama.", and a couple of kicks came, with Susan's jaw dropping in awe, "Oh, my god!".
Robert chuckled as he was starting to cry; his hormones almost overwhelming him at a few times, "These two are growing so fast.".
Susan smiled as she kissed his cheek, "And to think, we are having twins again, thanks to the proof just now.", rubbing Robert's belly with fondness before intertwining her hand with Robert's hand.
"It's just crazy to think we're going to be doing this all again. At least this time it'll be much calmer the whole time around.", Robrt chuckled as he kissed her cheek.
Susan nodded, "That's for sure.", before looking thoughtful, "Well, if it was only one baby, a water birth would be great, but we're having twins...Do you think the squatting method works for you? Or are you thinking of doing another way like Mudblaze explained?".
"Might just have to do it the normal way like you did and all.", Robert admitted as he took a deep breath to calm himself.
Susan sighed softly, "Plans change and the day will come, but I want you to have an easier time than I did, in my perspective. The squatting method is easier because of gravity and such, but if you want to do it the normal way, with a way of holding your little man back, I can't stop you there as you are carrying them, not me.".
"Yeah, I guess we'll just wait until the day and all, but honestly, it doesn't really matter, we're going to be parents again and have two more happy children to raise in the world.", Robert replied with a nod and a smile.
Susan smiled brightly, "It's going to be wonderful once more, with seeing their bitty eyes open in the morning, hearing their giggles when there's a tickle fight, feeling their warmth when they want to sleep in our bed after nightmares, smelling their shampoo from the shower when they come in for a hug, and kissing them good night after tucking them in bed.".
"It's going to feel like a repeat with Phillippe and Esme again, that's for sure." He smiled as he felt another kick. "Jeez, they're certainly restless right now." He noticed.
Susan giggled softly, "I think they're hungry.", and in response, Robert felt two sharp kicks, "They heard you. I think we still got some leftovers from last night's dinner of longneck meat.".
Susan nodded, "That sounds good, and I think Thunderwolf and Stormfire couldn't mind if we are early for breakfast. Speaking of, Silvergrace is only four days behind in pregnancy time as you were first to get pregnant, and I bet she will feel kicks sooner or later.".
"Given how active she and Phillippe have been, I would assume they'd already have overtaken me at some point.", Robert shook his head as he got up and started looking for some of the food.
Susan laughed softly, "Now, that I can believe...I am surprised myself as Phillippe used to be shy around new people and all on the surface, but down here, it's like he found himself, you know?", getting off the bed and joining Robert.
"Might be the Quantonium inside him helping a bit. Or maybe it's because he's grown up being different with everyone else, yet here, it's normal.", Robert theorized.
Susan nodded, "That would explain a lot since he often said that he doesn't want to be special and all. He feels like he fits in and he's normal at last. The village treats him normal, even if he's gonna be chief in the far future with Silvergrace at his side. With Esme, it's different. She is happy with size-shifting, and she wants to help out in fixing up Earth just like Tristan.".
"Two different worlds for the both of them.", Robert said as he finally found the food and started to eat. "You know, Sue, a thought had occurred to me since the whole finding out that Phillippe's going to be a future chief and all... what about us? Remember that one conversation we had so many years ago? After the whole container thing?". He didn't like to bring that back up since Sue was still horribly affected by it.
Susan blinked in surprise as she heard the last comment, and slowly remembered before nodding, "That we'd rule Earth? You know, Stormfire has mistaken us as queen and king that time at the pond...It has been almost 20 years now since we had that conversation.".
"Yeah, I mean, I haven't thought about it much until lately and all, but I don't know, how do you full feel about that? I mean, you and I both know we wouldn't remotely be anything like true monsters of history and all. You're way too kind for that.", Robert explained.
Susan smiled, remembering how Robert reassured her and told her that she's a good person and so kind to everyone she meets, and shrugged lightly with a teasing smirk, "Well, with the technology so good and updated over those past years since Gallaxhar's ship and the suits, the paperwork's sure to be easier to do.".
"Not to mention we seem to be getting ever more support day by day... for better or worse.", He shuddered as he quickly thought of some of the 'fan-art' of Ginormica and Gigantor he found online a few times. Still, most of the support was almost totally universal in good since they saved the whole world and all.
Susan smiled lightly, "Well, I couldn't mind being queen, but what about our new twins? I didn't leave the house until 6 months later when I felt comfortable with my parents and your dad watching Esme and Phillippe, remember?".
"I'm not saying like as soon as we get back to the surface and all that, Susan.", Robert told her. "I'm just saying, we're going to outlive like everyone that's alive up there and all. What I'm trying to mean is that, someday in the future, we maybe take those ideas we joked about before and be more serious with them.".
Susan exhaled shakily as she realized something, "We're essentially immortal, aren't we? I didn't realize until now, but Daddy and Mom, they're getting older...And your dad...".
"I wouldn't say essentially, but we've still probably got so many more years left in us.", Robert then paused as he thought, "Yeah... Dad... your folks...". He really didn't want to say the next words that they both knew might come.
Susan grabbed his hand, "It'd be selfish of us to ask them to have some Quantonium like how Tristan did, would it? Your dad deserves to be reunited with your mom in heaven...".
"It really would be their choice. And I feel like they'd pass on it, even if we told them.", Robert looked away as he took a bite from the meat that they found leftover.
Susan sighed deeply, "Somehow I think you're right on that...This place should be left alone as best as it should be, huh?".
"I think we can all agree on that one.", Robert leaned over to kiss her on the cheek as he smiled, "Hopefully we've still got another few decades with them still.".
Susan smiled softly, "Yes, and we can make home videos and such. And I thought of something just now. How about American style for the new twins in their names? I was thinking Calvin for a boy in case if one of the twins is.".
"I guess that makes sense.", Robert chuckled. "We went French last time so, I guess we should give the next two more English sounding ones. So, Calvin for the boy, and I'm guessing we've probably got a girl too. You know how the Quantonium is sometimes.".
Susan nodded, "That's for sure. And for Calvin's middle name, I was thinking Tyler.", before Robert received a sharp kick, "Oh! That's from the left side! Calvin?", and another kick answered him.
Robert chuckled softly, "Calvin Tyler Murphy?", and no response. Robert grinned lightly, "We got a smart boy here. And he doesn't like the sound of Tyler.".
Susan smiled, "Well, for that, he needs something special...Hmm, how about Lexis?", and Robert received a kick in response, laughing softly, "So, Calvin Lexis Murphy, huh?", receiving another sharp kick in confirmation, "He approves.".
Susan grinned, "That's settled then. Your turn to name our daughter.".
"Okay then, well, then, it should be something very good then.", Robert thought about it. "Well, what do you think of Dawn Sylvia Murphy? How does that sound to you?", He then looked to his stomach. "Or you?".
Susan hummed softly, "I really like Dawn for her first name.", and Robert received a sharp kick in response, chuckling, "She agrees with you with that one.".
Susan raised an eyebrow, "Sylvia is kind of old-fashioned...Are you going for a S-name after me in part, Robert?".
"Well, glad I got one right, at least. And yeah, partially, but also, it's just that Sylvia sounded kinda nice to me at the moment.", Robert explained to her.
Susan nodded, "I suppose I could understand that.", before smiling lightly at a soft breeze that moved through a window, "This place is so peaceful that it feels like serenity...Wait, that's it! How about Serenity for her middle name?".
"Serenity...", Robert slowly said before he felt a kick. "Yep, I think that one's the winner there.", he chuckled as he rubbed his belly once more. "Yeah, I think these two are going to be just as smart as Esme and Phillippe.".
Susan grinned lightly as she finished her piece of meat and reached over to join Robert in rubbing his baby belly, "I can believe that. Are you two full now?", and a couple kicks were felt under Susan and Robert's hands, "We can't wait to meet you properly, Calvin and Dawn.".
"You two try and take it easy with me, alright? Your mother already had to deal with your older siblings beforehand and they made sure they were well behaved and tried to cause few issues with her.", Robert teased.
Susan laughed softly as she felt two soft nudges, "I think they're feeling sorry for all the fuss this morning. Aww, Papa isn't mad at you two, he knows that you need to grow big and strong, alright?".
A couple of hands showed up against the skin, and Robert smiled softly as he rubbed against their little hands, "I forgive you, little ones. And you two will be always my little miracles no matter what.".
Susan kissed him on the nose, "Our little miracles.", before hearing a familiar sound of love-making, and she laughed lightly, "Sounds like Phillippe and Silvergrace's up. It sure was nice of them to actually give their gifted house to Esme and Tristan as they prefer more privacy than the rest of us.".
"I think it's because those two have their own little hideaway for them to have more of their fun. Don't you wonder where they keep vanishing off to?", Robert shook his head as he took one more bite of his food.
Susan shrugged, "Sometimes, but they always come back, so I am not that worried. And besides, they're adults. There's always a secret spot for anybody. Remember that house which wasn't actually a haunted house? I loved that hideaway.".
Robert laughed at the memory of that. "Oh, yeah, the only ghosts in that house was the sounds of us making out." He laughed. "To this day I really am surprised we were able to hold back. There really was quite a number of times where I was barely able to keep myself from wanting us to go all the way there."
Susan grinned, "I remember, you were really straining back there, but luckily, we managed to keep the suspicion off us by our parents.", before hearing a loud yelp from the room, and a second later, Phillippe's voice sounding frantic, "Are you okay, Silvergrace?! Did I bite wrong?".
Silvergrace's voice sounded out, "I'm fine. But the baby kicked!", hearing Phillippe's voice a second later, "What?! Really?".
Susan glanced at Robert, "I think the baby finally had enough of the loving.", smirking lightly. "Are we not going to question that he just said, 'he bit wrong'?", Robert raised an eyebrow as he gently rubbed Susan's back.
Susan shrugged lightly, "Probably love biting. They're younger and more active than us in a sense, so they would want to feel extremely good.".
"Yeah, but it is something we never really tried ourselves. At least I don't think we've did...", Robert thought about it. "We have done quite a lot of different things over the years.".
Susan nodded in agreement, "That's true. We could always try that out sometime.", before smirking lightly, "Through I'd think we have our own thing, anyway.".
"Oh, completely, but it is always nice to try some new things to keep things as well spiced up as they were before.", Robert kissed her neck before he stood up. "Shall we check up on them or give them a little more time?".
Susan giggled softly, "Oh, definitely.", before getting up to join Robert, "I don't hear any more love-making, so I think it's safe to check up on them. Besides, I am so happy that our grandchild finally kicked!".
"Yeah, I think it might be a good time now.", Robert said as the two of them moved up before they got close to the entry way to the room the other two were in.
Susan called out, "Can we come in, Phillippe? We didn't mean to, but we were early for breakfast, and well, we heard you...".
"Uh, sure, if that's okay with you two.", Phillippe answered before the two of them walked in. "Morning.", he blushed.
Robert smiled warmly as Phillippe is cradling Silvergrace, rubbing Silvergrace's baby belly, and he spoke, "Good morning. Before anything else, did the baby kick?".
Phillippe smiled. "Yeah, your granddaughter kicked already.", he told them as his parents got closer to the two so they could get a better look at Silvergrace's belly.
Susan gasped in surprise, "It's a girl? Robert, did you hear that? We got a granddaughter!", choking back her tears with a smile before staring in awe when a kick showed up against Silvergrace's baby belly.
Silvergrace smiled softly, "She's saying hello. Come along and feel her.". The couple started to put their hands on her belly as they tried to feel any kicks or punches. It was only a moment before Susan felt a hand pressing against hers.
Susan gasped in surprise, "Oh, hello, sweetheart! It's your Granny, and your Grandpappy's next to me.".
Robert smiled, "That's right, and I have your aunt and uncle here.", gently brushing his belly by the side, "Twins, say hello to your niece.", before two kicks reached out to Silvergrace's belly, and a kick responded back from Silvergrace's belly.
Silvergrace laughed softly, "She's happy to meet, even if it's sight unseen, and only by touch.".
"She's obviously really happy that you're all here.", Phillippe told them as he patted Silvergrace's belly. "Of course, she's happier that her mother and father are going to be with her almost all the time right now.".
Susan smiled, "Indeed, though I have a feeling she's annoyed with the love-making. After all, she kicked in the middle of your fun.", raising an eyebrow with a smirk.
Phillippe blushed, "Oh, you guys heard that.". He rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, we've been trying not to bother her so much, but sometimes it's hard you know. Especially when your mate is always walking around completely free of clothing.", he chuckled.
Robert nodded with a chuckle, "Don't I know it, son, but perhaps consider slowing down for your daughter. Somehow, to me, she seems like she loves her sleep.", and a moment later, a sharp kick responded to him to his hand, "She's quite like her grandmother that way.", grinning.
Susan rolled her eyes, "Oi! I can't help it if I want to sleep longer in the mornings, Robert.".
"Yeah, but you should know after all these years that our bodies really want some release as often as possible.", Robert joked.
"Okay, would you two cut that out?", Phillippe waved his hands. "I don't want to hear about your sex lives all the time.".
Robert laughed heartily, "Fair enough. So, Silvergrace, I know you are waiting to name her after the birth, but you have talked about picking a surface name for her middle name.".
Silvergrace nodded, "Yes, and I've been asking for the meanings behind the ones Phillippe has brought up each week since we've come to know of my pregnancy. So far, there's nothing I favor yet.".
Philippe nodded. "Yeah, we've been having some difficulties with that one.", he admitted. "It seemed like so easy at first when thinking about it, but now…".
Robert smiled, "It's alright. We both know how the feeling is. You want to be so perfect at times, but it's easier to just take a deep breath and step back.".
Susan nodded lightly, "That's right. Our new twins were a bit picky like you and Esme yet so smart already. We took our time and found the names for them. Why, your little brother's full name is Calvin Lexis, and your little sister's full name is Dawn Serenity.".
"Well, you two sound so perfect already.", Philippe said as he was looking at his father's belly. "But of course, our daughter takes after this family… she's going to be just as picky if not more.".
Robert smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry, Phillippe. When she's ready to be known with whatever you choose for her, she shall let both of you know.".
A knock sounded out, and they turned around to see Driftclaw at the entry, "Pardon the interruption, Silvergrace, but have you seen your parents?".
Silvergrace blinked in surprise, "They haven't returned yet from the funeral ceremony?", looking a tad concerned.
Yesterday, one of the elders has passed away, and in tradition, the chief and the chiefess has to help with the burial with the elder's family in attendance, far from here for there's more than just ponds and rivers here, there's also a mini ocean, and there's a range of seaside cliffs where the ancestors of the tribe are buried, and when elders and others pass on, they are to join their ancestors there.
The ceremony indicates a song, a speech, and a flower patch with a carved rock to mark the grave, and it lasts all day as the trip is long both ways.
Driftclaw shook his head, "No, my lady. I have great news to report. I was starting to head out on my morning patrol, to check for news to put into the morning report like usual when I heard a most unusual sound. When I pinpointed the sound as I got closer, I saw the sinkhole where our friends emerged from, and there's a strange object that looks like a basket with a aloft orb of colors, hovering and flying. I managed to see three beings, one that looks like a water blob, one that looks like a large insect, and one that is a peculiar mix of fish and human.",
"Before I left to head back here, they were seemingly lost, heading for Oakwood Falls. I am anxious as Rocklight and Flashbird is still there, waiting for their eggs to hatch.", Driftclaw finished with a concerned look.
"Oh, so they managed to finally get down here.", Robert sighed as he shook his head. "Well, nice to know they at least survived the way down here. I was somewhat concerned that they might not be able to make it, considering that none of them have Quantonium.", Phillippe said.
"Well, someone should probably go get them... Where's Esme and Tristan?", said Robert. Silvergrace shrugged lightly, "They must be in the other house still as Driftclaw knows to come here straight at once. You say they're heading for Oakwood Falls?".
Driftclaw nodded, "Yes, my lady.". Silvergrace looked at him, "I'll take the others with me so they will reunite with their friends. You keep on your morning patrol and find my parents. Perhaps they're observing the morning hunt over in Misty Grove since the hunting patrol planned to be there for this day.".
Driftclaw bowed his head, "I'll leave then with your permission.", and Silvergrace replied, "Permission granted.", and Driftclaw nodded, leaving quickly.
Silvergrace glanced at Phillippe, "Please let me get up.". "Are you sure?", Phillippe asked her. "Those three might be entering dangerous territory at any moment. I mean, any sort of thing could come along their way. I'm not so worried for them since they can handle themselves pretty well, but I'd rather get to them sooner rather than later.".
"Probably also should get something on... at least for us. B.O.B. is a bit... sort of like a child at times.", Susan added.
Silvergrace looked at Phillippe with a reassuring smile, "Oakwood Falls is a nesting spot for parents to lay and hatch their eggs, and since Flashbird and Rocklight is part of the tribe, they have been dinosaurs to experience egg laying and such, but once after laying, they are able to turn back to human, but they are on egg watch since Flashbird and Rocklight are brother and sister. Their mates are in the hunting patrol today. And did you say that one of your friends, Link is practically nude as he's a fish-human-monkey hybrid of sorts?".