They cut back on the missions. No one seemed to mind, or if they did, no one said anything. The headaches and nausea came and went in unpredictable waves. Try as he might, 9S could not discern a pattern. 2B fussed on him shamelessly, doing her best not to smother him or seem overprotective. Instead she spoiled him as best she could, letting him sleep when he was tired and choosing missions that wouldn't tax his system too much. They both tried to avoid the desert at all costs.

Oddly enough, one mission proved strangely helpful to their situation.

"Do you suppose you could keep an eye on the children for a little while?" Pascal had asked. "I won't be gone long. I know the danger now is minimal, but you'd be surprised what they can get up to."

The Machines, of course, weren't really children so much as more recently built models still learning and growing. Which...was what children were so yeah, okay, fine. Machine children. They were good kids for the most part, but had zero sense of self-preservation. 2B and 9S spent an enlightening afternoon running after Pascal's kids making sure they didn't get themselves killed.

"That's what we've got to look forward to," 9S huffed, fan buzzing a warning from spinning at maximum for too long.

"It's not too late," 2B told him. 9S just stared at her, trying to work out if she was trying to be funny or serious or maybe some weird mix of both.

"It was a joke," she said, expression contrite. "I didn't mean…"

9S smiled for her to hide how much her words had hurt. "I know you didn't."

"You know I have the comedic skills of a rock," 2B lamented.

"I love your biting sarcasm and dry wit," 9S told her with full honesty, stretching to kiss her cheek. "We just gotta work on your timing, that's all."

She smiled, just the tiniest bit chagrined and kissed him back.

"Ew gross!" one of the kids gagged. "They're being mushy!"

Against their better judgement, it wasn't the only time 2B and 9S babysat for Pascal. It was good practice. At least, that's what 9S told 2B. Oddly enough, she agreed with him. She had her own way of studying and learning from the kids; tracking their movements and learning how best to keep them in line. 9S, being a Scanner, found himself focusing on their individual quirks and curiosities, studying their developing personalities. Funny. Not so long ago he would have dismissed the very possibility of Machine personalities as pure nonsense.

"I think I'm getting the hang of this," 2B commented as they walked home. "Also, there's a dozen of them. We'll only have one to keep track of."

"One to start, anyway."

9S was almost yanked off his feet as 2B stopped short, still holding his hand.

The look on her face was too complex to parse. Aside from being profoundly poleaxed, it was hard to tell what was going on behind her wide, gray eyes.

"So….no siblings?"

"Please tell me you're not having twins."

"I'm not. At least, I don't think so."

She relaxed slightly, allowing herself a weak laugh. "Let's see how this one goes first."

"Okay, fair enough." 9S held out his arms and she fell into them gladly.

"I'm not opposed to siblings," she muttered into his hair. "But let's see how we manage with just one."

"Deal."

She drew back, studying him briefly before walking on.

"So more kids, huh? I never knew you wanted a family."

9S shrugged and contemplated the little dust clouds his boots made when they kicked against the broken pavement. "I've always wanted a family. It just...wasn't allowed."

She dropped his hand, fingers traveling up his arm and across his shoulders so she could pull him close against her. Instinctively, he put an arm around her waist.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think."

"Hey, don't apologize. You didn't know."

"I should have."

"Bea. It's okay. Really."

She stopped and smiled. "Why are you so good to me?"

He stretched and kissed her. "'Cause you're good to me. And also I love you. That too."

Her smile widened to a grin to mirror 9S'.