When Hody and Topaz found out they were going to be having a child, they knew there would be many awkward conversations to come. Their friends had been the first to know. Topaz knew that Zafira and Burnicia would have her back. And Twister had been like a brother to Hody. While he had no idea what to say to him, he at least offered a listening ear and promised support.

Their parents had obviously been the next people to know. That had led to some… very heavy back and forths. Hody couldn't remember how the last time his mother had looked at him she had, and Cole… he was pretty sure Cole wanted to castrate him.

But there had still been more people to tell, including his sister. As surprised as she was about the news, Maria had of course offered to help in anyway she could.

Asterossa on the other hand…

"You dumb bitch!" Astro growled. "What the hell were you thinking?!"

The waterfolk prince narrowed his eyes at the boy. He hadn't wanted him here when he broke the news, but Topaz said it didn't matter since Maria was going to tell him later anyway. Even if she didn't, there was no hiding this from the royal court. He'd hear about it one way or the other. "Astro!" Maria said, glaring at him.

Hody glared. "Listen you little whelp! I won't have you talking to Topaz like-"

"I'm talking to YOU!" Astro clarified, anger written all over his face.

Hody looked a bit surprised, while Maria tried to pull him back down to his seat. Topaz also looked caught off guard. She hadn't exactly expected a positive reaction from Astro given that they weren't on the best of terms with him, but he seemed far angrier than either had imagined. "Astro, calm down," Maria said.

"Are you joking?!" he asked, turning towards her. "No! How can you be okay with this! How can you sit there and act like this isn't a problem! They're having a child! An illegitimate child! How could you let this happen?!"

Hody scoffed. "Would you like a diagram?" he asked sarcastically.

Astro roared, his eyes turning black and his teeth turning sharp. "This isn't a fucking joke you imbecile!" he shouted stepping towards him. Maria quickly got up and stood in front of him, putting her hands up to keep him back. "Do you have even the slightest idea what this means?!"

Hod growled back and stood up. "Of course I know what it means! But this is my problem deal with, so stop acting as if this is some personal slight to you!" he barked back. "I know how this will reflect on my family, and on my kingdom, but it's my burden to bear!"

"It's not a burden! It's a kid you mother-!" Astro grit his teeth and turned around and kicked the table. "God damn it! I can't believe this! You! You of all people had the nerve to do something like this! I should run you through right now! That kid would be better off!"

"ASTRO!" Maria shouted angrily. He turned towards her, a curious expression still on his face. "That's enough! Go outside and cool off right now!" They stared off for a moment, and then Astro grunted and stormed out of the room. Maria sighed before turning towards her brother. "I'm sorry…"

Topaz looked confused. "What the hell was that about?" she asked.

"I think… This situation hits a little close to home for home. It probably doesn't help that it comes from…"

"Me?" Hody asked.

Maria nodded slowly. "You did give him quite a hard time about him being… you know. I think he finds it a bit hypocritical seeing you have a child in the same situation. I'm sure once he has time to calm down this will blow over though," she assured.

Hody snorted. As if he cared what he thought. It didn't matter how close to home it hit for him, this was Hody's situation to deal with. If Astro shunned him or wanted nothing to do with the child, then he wouldn't care less…

Hody scowled angrily as he watched his son laugh as he was held up in the air by Astro. He was usually so stoic around anyone else. Not even Maria could get a smile out of him. Yet the moment that fool walked into the room, his little face lit up to get to his uncle. Astro was so damn smug about it too.

Turq looked amazing as he grabbed at his uncle's horns, and Astro just chuckled. "Be careful. I don't want him poking his eyes out on those…" Hody warned.

"I know how to hold and take care of an infant. I've been doing it since I was four," Astro said, holding Turq up. "Unlike your father, I went out of my way to help take care of my little sister when she was born. You make sure to do the same when your little sibling shows up, little man."

Hody scowled. "Don't jinx us. I'm still trying to settle things down with this one." The court had thrown a fit over Turq's birth. Gossip and rumors spread left and right, and it annoyed him to no end. He'd had a lot of trouble dealing with it until Star of all people had given him some advice. Apparently she had gone through something similar when she took in Astro and claimed her as his son.

"You're going to need to have another child at some point, aren't you?" Astro asked as Turq leaned his head against his chest. He could hear the thumping of all of his hearts, and it seemed to calm him. "Unless you plan on giving him the throne?"

Hody narrowed his eyes. "You know I can't do that?"

"Why not?"

"The court would never allow it."

"Who cares what the court thinks? He's your son."

"This situation is muddy enough as it is. I can't suddenly just go against the rules of the court and name him my heir. He's a…"

"He's a bastard," Astro said simply. Hody scowled. "I'm amazed at how long you've managed to go without saying it really. I honestly didn't think you had it in you. But you're going to have to get used to it again, because he's got to know what he is."

Hody grunted. It had never really dawned on him what that meant until he was actually holding his son in his hands. He remembered all the rumors and talked in the court that sprouted about Astro, and were more than likely going to appear about Turq too. "It's hard being a bastard," Astro said.

"I know…"

"No you don't," Astro said sternly. "You literally know absolutely nothing about it. That's why I'm telling you now. He's going to get bullied, and teased, and mocked. Just like you did to me, all the time. And there's nothing you can do about it."

The elder prince scoffed. "Is this you way of rubbing it in? Telling me that this is what everything I've done to you is coming back on me?" he asked, annoyed.

"This is me telling you not to be the same jackass you were back then," Astro said. "The only places I never felt like a bastard was when I was with my family and the Guard. He should be able to have the same thing. It's your job to make him feel like he's got a safe place to go to."

"Are you seriously trying to lecture me on how to be a parent?"

"It's more like lecturing you on how now to be a dick," Astro clarified. "I'm serious though. If you ever make this kid feel like you made me feel when I was younger, I'll kill you myself."

He raised an eyebrow at him. "You're going to kill me? Don't you think he'd have it rough enough without a father?" he asked.

"I didn't have a father until I was sixteen and I was fine. He'll make due." Astro then looked down as he felt Truq slapping his hands against his chest.

"What is he doing?" Hody asked, confused.

"I think my hearts are confusing him," Astro said. Or more likely just making him curious. The boy clearly had never met another Titan before, which was probably why he was so drawn to him. Astro had been able to tell the moment the kid was born. Pretty much all Titans could. It was like some unseen link between them.

He hadn't said anything yet though. He honestly didn't see any need to yet. It wasn't like he was showing any major outward signs of it, so it wasn't likely he was going to catch any eyes. He wondered what Hody and Topaz would think of it when they found out… it would probably be funny. "Alright, you look like you're blanking out. Give me my kid back before you drop him."

Astro smirked. "Here." He handed Turq back to him, and the baby whined and reached back towards him. "Wow, he already likes me better than you. He is smart."

"Shut it Butterfly…" Hody got up and began heading off, and Astro sat there in thought. It seemed odd. Titans were so rare in mewni's history. At least during the time his father and the Ten had been gone. Typhon had said that it might have been his seal weakening that led to more being born or made.

Like some kind of beacon or something.

Compared to back in the day, there still weren't that many. But seeing one born so soon in this generation made him wonder if that was going to change.

A/N: Doing a lot of future AU content. Got to get back to the main story soon!

So Astro was none to pleased to hear about Hody and Topaz's having a kid like they did. It was especially annoying to see Hody of all people have a bastard half-breed. That and the fact that he's a Titan made him have a particularly soft spot for his nephew. I could also see him letting Turq get away with stuff just to spite Hody.