The future was indeed something to think about. It was scary, it was exciting, and it was full of potential.
Keoni and Pania were trying to calm down Enele as they waited outside while Huihana was giving birth. Huihana and Enele had been married for about a year now, and within that same timeframe Huihana became pregnant. A midwife suspected the possibility of twins, something that was terrifying and exciting to the new parents.
Keoni was thrilled to have Enele as his brother in law, but he hadn't expected them to get started on having a family so quickly. Meanwhile, Keoni and Moana had just gotten their marriage approved by the council, and they were going to start preparing for the ceremony. As the marriage of a chief was drastically different than that to a commoners'.
"Enele, you're not helping yourself or Huihana by stressing this much." Pania exclaimed. Pania had become a great friend and support for Keoni. She admitted she found him very attractive, but she respected boundaries and knew Keoni was taken.
Maybe an hour or so later, Moana stepped out of the fale to assure Enele that Huihana was doing wonderful, and he could go see her. He didn't hesitate running up the steps and inside, Moana, Keoni, and Pania following.
"Was that suspicion correct?" Keoni asked as they walked up. Moana just smiled at him and parted back the curtains so he could see his sister.
"Ask her yourself." Keoni beamed seeing his sister propped up against her husband, both carrying a baby in their arms. Pania couldn't help but chuckle.
"Double whammy, nice." Keoni walked over to give his sister a tight hug.
"So, who's who?" He asked, looking at his nephews. It was then that it finally hit Keoni that he was an uncle at the age of 20. It was wild. Huihana gave him a small smile.
"Dad had a mole under his right eye and one on his right shoulder, this little one," Huihana gestured to the little boy in her arms, "is Amiri, he has the mole on his shoulder. And Rua, has the one under his eye."
Amiri and Rua were identical twins, but it was the moles that helped distinguish them. Amiri was older than his brother by about ten minutes. Twins were rare, so the two were special.
Even though she wasn't yet married to him yet, Moana considered the twins as her nephews, loving them dearly, and the best part was, Huihana let her brother and Moana babysit, so Moana considered it getting experience in raising a child of her own someday.
After another long day of helping Huihana with the twins, Keoni and Moana went back to their private spot together to get some alone time and talk.
"Children are… exhausting." Keoni mumbled. Moana nodded.
"Well… it's worth it in the end, because you love them. They're a part of you." Moana replied, leaning on him.
"Yeah, that's true. I wouldn't trade my nephews for anything in the world." Moana glanced over at him.
"Does it still feel weird to be an uncle?" He chuckled.
"It did at first when they were born, but now, I feel a sense of pride, knowing they'll call me uncle Keoni eventually." They both laughed.
"With the wedding coming up… you know we eventually have to think about having a family of our own, right?" Moana suddenly brought up. Keoni looked at her with surprise.
"I- yes. But I didn't think of you as the type to want a family so early?" Moana sighed.
"Honestly, me neither, but… it's been stuck in my head for a while. I eventually want to have kids of my own someday, after all, I have so much knowledge I want to pass on. And… I was talking to my mother about having kids and such some timeago. She and dad wanted to give me a brother or sister, but my mother is physically unable to have kids, and she told me she hoped I don't have to go through that." He smiled at her.
"All good mothers want what's best for their kids. Don't worry, we'll figure it out, but, after we get married, let's just give ourselves some time to grow little more. We're only 20." Moana sighed. She knew Keoni was right.
It was definitely unlike her to think about wanting to have kids, but after seeing how well Keoni interacted with his nephews, she couldn't stop thinking about Keoni as a father.
Now Keoni had some doubts about being a parent himself. Since he didn't really have a father figure in his early life, he didn't think he knew what it took to be one. Only recently did he start seeing paternal affection. Emele had proven to be a wonderful husband and father, and Tui himself was just a great man altogether.
When Keoni first settled down on Motunui, when he wasn't with Moana, he was with Tui and Sina. They saw him as a son they never had, and he received a lot of support from them. With their help, he and Huihana had a home again. Eventually, Huihana moved in with Emele, but even when she moved out, Tui and Sina were there to be with him while Moana did her duties as acting chief.
Keoni had told them all about himself and they all learned a great deal about each other, and naturally, Keoni held Tui in the highest regard and had a lot of respect for him.
"I suppose you're right. But… I want us both to be ready when the time comes." She said softly. Keoni smiled and pulled her close against him, kissing her on the forehead.
"Don't worry, we will be."