Two becomes Three
Chapter 1
"I'm going to miss you..." Tela bit her lip, feeling the waterworks coming as she watched Sora pull on his agent gear. They had both been in bed cuddling when the Inkling received a phone call, apparently an old abandoned facility had been found up north from Inkopolis. They needed Sora to come help investigate... which could take days or even weeks.
Sora glanced over and looked guilty as he saw the tears falling from those amber eyes he loved so much. Dropping his headset, he walked over and sat down to pull his naked girlfriend close. "Hey... you'll be fine here. You have everyone close by, including Mr Cuba right? You've been loving working for him, and don't forget your new friends down at Grizz co right?"
Tela sniffed and nodded while holding onto him, she didn't want him to leave… not while she was expecting.
Sora wiped away her tears with his thumb and leaned down to kiss her nose. "I'll be back before you know it. You know the Squidbeak has been following leads on Morida, if this facility is linked to him then…"
Tela reached up to those sky-blue tentacles of his and stroked them, causing the Inkboy to shiver. "I understand… just be careful, ok?"
Sora grabbed her hand and pulled her into a passionate kiss, his fangs scraping against her plump lips. Tela closed her eyes and melted… until finally he pulled away and cupped her cheek. "I'm always careful. You know me."
He reached down and rubbed Tela's stomach. "Especially since I'm going to be a dad. Gotta teach the kid all my cool moves you know?"
She scoffed as Sora smirked and got up. "I'll contact you when I can. Love you."
"Love you too." Tela smiled softly and watched him leave. She listened to the front door open… then closed and that horrible silence followed.
Tela sighed, feeling lost and lonely already as she finally got out of bed and got dressed. She understood why Sora had to go, understood the pressure and responsibilities they had.
She walked over to her cupboard and opened the doors, before reaching underneath her clothes and pulling out a small white stick. Tela stared, feeling her gut twist and boil with fear and shame.
The thought of being a mother terrified her… yet she was excited too, though probably not as excited as Sora was. She was certain the Inking would be mad considering they were young, yet he was happy. Really happy.
The bang of fireworks from the city caught her attention, making her glance out the window and distracting her whirlwind of thoughts.
It had been a month since the attack on Inkopolis. A few of the Octarians were already integrating into society with ease, having made friends with the Inklings who happily showed them how things worked.
Then… there were the other Octarians who have isolated themselves from the others and did nothing but cause trouble despite Octavio trying to keep them in line.
After breakfast, Tela left the apartment and wandered onto the streets of Inkopolis. It wouldn't do to stay inside sulking and pining for her boyfriend.
The skies were clear today despite a slight chill, summer was slowly coming to an end and everyone were covering up more then usual. Advisements around the city showed a brand-new range of autumn wear coming soon, promising to make anyone look fresh.
Tela smiled as she saw the board with the advisement, recognising the picture of her boss. Mr Cuba had been so kind to her lately and even offered his range of clothes at a discount to her. Who knew Inkling clothes were not only fashionable but comfortable too.
Thud!
Tela yelped as she accidently bumped into someone solid and staggered back. Before she could fall over, someone grabbed her arm in a tight grip.
"Woah there! You need to pay more attention babe."
Babe!? Tela opened her mouth to give this guy a piece of her mind, instead her eyes widen and her jaw dropped. Familiar emerald green eyes stared back.
For one wild second she believed Sora was here, but then she noticed the Inkboy had yellow tentacles which were slicked back. He smirked and let go of Tela's hand.
He wasn't Sora, but there was no mistaking those eyes or his facial features. The Inkling tilted his head, that smirk still gracing his lips.
"Take a picture babe, it'll last longer. Unless you want my number and hook up?"
His eyes looked her up and down, making Tela shiver.
"No thanks. Not interested." She said sharply. "I already have a boyfriend."
The Inkboy shrugged. "Your loss babe."
"Stop calling me babe!"
The Inkling laughed and winked at her before walking off down the street, leaving Tela glaring at him. What a creep… a creep that looked too much like Sora for her comfort.
With a shake of her head, she continued with her day.
Tela returned hours later, two shopping bags in her hands filled with groceries. Janjan, Levi and the twins were all coming tomorrow for a meal and there was nothing in the cupboards, thank Octo for her job at Mr. Cuba's. It was nice not having to rely on Sora for money.
The Octoling missed doing work at , but Sora had banned her from doing shifts while she was expecting.
She stopped dead however upon seeing her apartment door unlocked. The Octoling definitely remembered locking the door on her way out. Slowly, she opened the door and quietly placed the bags down inside.
Someone was here… she could hear them cursing and looking through the kitchen cupboards. Could it be the twins? No… they wouldn't have let themselves in if no one was at home. Then who…?
"Stupid idiot… he never has anything good." Tela froze as that Inkboy from before appeared from the kitchen.
"You!" Tela yelled angrily. "Get out of my home you creep!" She grabbed one of Sora's shoes that lay near the front door and threw it as hard as she could.
"H-Hey! Watch it!" The Inkboy yelped and dodged out of the way. "This is my brother's apartment you crazy Octo!"
Tela paused as she was getting ready to throw the other shoe. Brother? Sora doesn't have a brother… no wait. A memory came to mind… Sora mentioned having a half brother called Haru. Then this must be…?
"Haru right?" She asked while lowering the shoe. It made sense, his eyes and facial features were almost the same.
Haru lowered his hands from his head in an act to protect himself from the projectiles. "Yeah babe, that's me. I'm Sora's little brother."
"Don't call me babe!" Tela hissed angrily and threw the shoe. "Sora didn't mention you were coming. How did you even get in here."
Haru smirked as he dodged and pulled out a lockpick from his pocket. "It was easy. So who the squid are you? You Sora's girl or something?"
The nerve of this Inkling! Tela crossed her arms. "I am actually. My name is Tela. So now you can shove off, Sora is away on business."
"Whaaaaaat!? So lame!" Haru huffed before making himself comfortable on the couch. "Mom and Dad kicked me out, so I'm staying here until I find my own place."
Stay? No way Tela wanted this creep here, yet did she really have the right to kick Sora's own brother out of his apartment? With a sigh, she turned and picked up her shopping bags from the floor.
"Fine, I guess you can stay until Sora gets back and deals with you."
Haru turned on the tv and grinned at her. "Thanks Tela. My brother sure knows how to pick his girls."
The Octoling glared at him as she took the groceries into the kitchen to be packed away.
It soon became apparent that Haru was nothing like his brother over the next few days. He was lazy… a slob… and such a playsquid. Maya and Naya almost jumped the Inkboy when they came for dinner and saw him, both looking furious at seeing Haru here.
It was clear they had history with Sora's brother.
This didn't faze Haru at all as he laughed it off and began to hit on the twins. It took both Janjan and Tela together to prevent first degree murder in the apartment.
Dealing with increased morning sickness and Haru's antics was proving to be a stressful time for Tela, who was just wishing for Sora to return and make everything better.
After four days of being gone, she finally got a phone call.
"Hello?" Tela answered as she glared at Haru playing video games on his brothers gaming console.
"It's so good to hear your voice again Tela."
"Sora!" Her heart skipped a beat with joy. "I'm glad to hear your voice to-!"
"Squid yeah! Take that army of the dead!" Haru cheered as he button mashed away.
"… no way… please don't tell me that isn't who I think it is?" Sora sounded shock and furious.
Tela sighed and began to explain. When she was done, Sora was beside himself.
"Of all the time to… gah! Wait until I get my hands on him!" He raged.
"It's fine, I can handle him until you get back home." Tela chuckled. There was a pause. "Sora?"
"I'm sorry Tela, me and the other Agents found information here on another facility further up north. It's going to be awhile before I get back. Squid… it might be a while before I'll be able to contact you again."
Tela clutched the phone tightly and swallowed hard, feeling her eyes started to tear up. "O-Oh… I see."
"Hey… I'll be back as soon as I can. I promise." Other voices were heard, sounding like Marie speaking in the background. There was a pause. "… alright. I have to go Tela, if my brother causes any trouble then kick him out. I'm sure the twins will help with that. I love you."
"I…" Tela hesitated. Marie could be heard talking again. Sora cursed angrily.
"I've got to go." He sounded urgent. Before Tela could say another word, the phone went dead. She stood there for what seemed like an age, still clutching the phone like it was her lifeline.
A hand reached over and plunked the phone from her hands, snapping Tela out of it. Haru smiled and placed the phone back down in its cradle.
"Hey… you and my brother really are that serious aren't you? Why don't I make dinner today?"
Tela stared. "You? Make dinner? Do you even know how to cook?"
The Inkling scoffed. "Ok let me rephrase that, I'll buy us dinner today. Fancy kelp burgers from McSquiddons? I got lucky in Turf Wars today."
She continued to stare. This was the first time Haru actually got off his lazy behind and offered to do something. With a smile, she nodded. "Sure. Kelp burgers sound alright."
Haru grinned and pulled out his mobile phone to order. Once the meals were here and the two settled down to ate and watch a movie, he glanced at Tela.
"So, I'm going to be an uncle huh?" He smirked.
Tela choked on her mouthful of kelp burger and snapped her head towards Haru, looking shocked. How in the Octo hell did he know!? The Inkling seem to read her mind.
"It's kind of obvious. You're showing already." He jabbed his thumb towards her stomach. "Won't be long before you lay, I bet."
"S-Shut up." Tela looked away, looking nervous and almost… scared.
Haru kicked back and turned his face towards the tv as the movie began to play. Squids in Black, a film about a secret organization working to keep aliens a secret. Such a classic.
"Relax, I bet you'll be a great mom. Though Dad might be a bit pissed that Sora knocked up a girl who he hasn't even met yet. My Mom won't care though, she hates big bro."
Tela frowned and turned her head to face him. "What? Why does his mom hate him?"
"She's my mom, not Sora's. His mom died when he was just a baby."
Tela blinked. Sora had never told her any of this before.
"Mom never liked Sora, though she never said why." He shrugged while continuing to watch the movie.
She stared at him for a few moments, then slowly turned her head to watch the movie too. Poor Sora… she couldn't imagine growing up with a step mother who didn't love you. Her hand drifted down to her stomach, feeling the hardness of the egg within.
Janjan beamed as Tela opened the apartment door to let her in. Levi reached out for her big sister as soon as she saw her. "Tela!"
Tela chuckled and bent down to pick up the 8 year old Octo. "Hey little sis, how's school going?"
"It's been fun!" She cheered as the three walked in towards the living room. "I've made loads of friends."
Their grandmother Janjan chuckled. "Aye loopy loo, her teachers tell me she's such a delight to teach."
Haru walked out of the spare bedroom clutching his Dualies and nodded at them with a grin. "Morning ladies~ I'm heading off to Deco tower, catch ya later Tela."
"Sure, have fun." Tela chuckled as the Inkling headed out.
"I see you two are getting on better." Janjan smirked as Levi waved goodbye to the squid.
"Turns out he's not as bad as I thought, though he's still a perverted slob." Tela smiled before growing nervous. "That aside, there's a reason why I invited you both over here."
Janjan sat down on the couch with Levi, concern on her face due to how nervous and on edge her granddaughter sounded. "Little Tulip? Is everything ok?"
Tela took a deep breath to steady her nerves, before lifting up her shirt. "I'm ah… e-expecting."
Silence filled the room as the eldery Octoling stared in shock. Levi just looked confused as she glanced between the two. Tela began to panic and quickly pulled her shirt back down.
"It w-was an accident ok!? Me and Sora did it before I even knew Inkling and Octoling could… y-you know! I didn't mea-!"
She stopped talking as Janjan pulled her into a hug, one hand rubbing her back. "It's ok Tulip dear, this is lovely news."
Tela sobbed and wrapped her arms around her grandmother. "I'm so scared… what if I'm a terrible mother? I'm not ready to be a mom…"
"Oh Tela… do you think I was ready when I had your mother? Do you think your mother was ready when she had you? No one is ever truly ready." Janjan soothed.
"Yet when you hold that egg in your arms, all that fear and uncertainly will go away… I promise. In my heart I know you and Sora will make amazing parents, that child is going to be very lucky."
"I'm going to be an Auntie? This is so cool!" Levi cheered.
Tela chuckled and let go of Janjan to wipe her tears away. "You bet sis."
"Now then, why don't I treat us all to ice-cream?" Janjan chuckled as she stood up. Levi cheered and began to chant the word ice-cream over and over again.
Tela smiled softly as she watched the two, her fears were less then before.
"I w-wish Sora was here!" Tela cried out as Janjan held her hand and Cuttlefish held her other hand. The poor Octoling was on the bed in a hospital ward, getting ready to lay. Holy Octo it hurt… it felt like she was tearing apart down there.
"You're doing great lass." Cuttlefish chuckled.
"First eggs are always the hardest. Your second one will just pop out with ease." Janjan smiled as a doctor stood by, a blanket in his hands.
"There won't be another one! I swear!" Tela yelled.
Cuttlefish hummed as something beeped within his clothes. "Ah… about time they got back." He let go of Tela's hand, making her protest and cry.
The elderly Inkling simply nodded at Janjan with a knowing smile before getting up to leave.
"N-No! Please don't leave me!" Tela whimpered. At that moment however, the doors burst opened and slammed against the walls. The Doctor glanced over and glared, but the person who entered didn't care as they rushed over.
"Tela!"
Wait… that sounded like...
Sora grabbed her free hand and held it tightly. "I'm here!"
Tela gasped and stared at him, her amber eyes wide in disbelief and shock. "S-Sora? Is it really you?" He was here… he really was here.
"Yeah, I'm here." He cupped her cheek softly before glancing at Tela's stomach with wonder in his eyes. "We've just got back… then Haru told me to get my butt to the hospital."
Tela laughed through the pain, everything was so much more manageable and better now that the Inkling was here.
It wasn't long before Tela successfully laid her egg, it's translucent shell gleamed in the light of the room. The new parents leaned against each other and held the precious treasure between them, their eyes glued to what they have created together.
A brand-new adventure waited for the both who were eager to get started.
Wasn't life just amazing?