Our Nest Egg

Chapter 2

XoxoxoxoxoX

Author's Note: This chapter will focus on Russel and Minka's experience!

XoxoxoxoxoX

Wasn't it weird how many of the best-laid plans never came out the way they were intended to? In fact, Russel found it to be downright sad. Especially when your partner was an excitable and somewhat reckless spider monkey. In hindsight, this probably wasn't one of his better ideas.

"Minka, please! Be very careful with that egg," said Russel worriedly as he watched the pink female swing merrily from perch to perch. "We just got it! Think... think of it as a newborn infant," he added, in the hopes of her taking the experiment more seriously.

"I'm just having a little fun with Bianca, Russel!" Minka replied, quite unruffled by his words. She smiled warmly at the egg in her free hand, as if she were peering down at her own flesh and blood. "She just loves to play really high up with her Mommy! Don't you, Bianca?" Minka cooed, pressing it against her cheek.

"Bianca?" Russel returned blankly. "Who decided to name it Bianca?"

"I did!" Minka replied, as if it wasn't obvious. She shot her partner a disapproving look. "And it is not an it, it's a she!"

"First of all, you can't just decide on a name for our egg without my knowledge!" Russel began impatiently, tapping his small foot. "Secondly, your playing around like that will inevitably hurt him!"

"Her!" Minka insisted irritably.

Russel folded his arms and scoffed. "It could be an unhatched male, for all you know. And if it is a male, he can't be named Bianca! Dexter is a much more suitable name for someone born from my intelligence," Russel said proudly, puffing out his little chest. Minka narrowed her eyes and hopped down, letting go of their egg and easily coiling her tail around it before it fell to the ground.

"What are you saying? That Bianca doesn't like swinging around? She's part monkey, you know! She's got energy to burn, things to climb, funny noises to make!" Minka argued, waving her arms around to emphasize her point. "That's what us monkeys like to do! You can't stop her from doing what she was made to do!"

Russel grabbed the egg from her tail, checking it over for any damage that he was almost certain it had suffered while in her care. "And he's part hedgehog," he pointed out. "Hedgehogs don't do all of that. We like to have our feet planted firmly on the ground and live more quietly, less dangerously. You're being inconsiderate, Minka."

Minka gasped. "Me? Inconsiderate!? How am I being inconsiderate? I just want the best for our little Bianca!"

"Well, I don't think you know what's best for Dexter!" Russel shot back, growing equally irate as she was. The other partners glanced over at them, but the two of them didn't seem to care. "I think it's best if I watch over it for the rest of the day. His his safety."

"But I was doing just fine!" Minka snapped, her cheeks tinted red from frustration and the sting of Russel's words. She turned her back on him and began to stomp off. "You know what? Fine! I guess I can't help it that poor Bianca has such an uptight jerk for a dad!"

Before Russel could reply, Minka hopped away and quickly made way for the opposite side of the room. Sunil, who was in her way, immediately jumped back, noting the anger in her baby-blue eyes. Russel's spikes bristled and he glared at her retreating back.

Hm! I was only trying to teach her the right way to care for it. This is supposed to be a learning experience. What if she ever has her own offspring one day? How can she honestly say she'd be a good parent to them when she can't even take care of a simple egg?

He shook his head, starting to regret his choice in a partner.

"Don't worry, Dexter. Your father won't let your future be compromised," he assured the little egg in his paws. "I'm going to stress discipline, education, and self-restraint. All things a good adult should have!"

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Minka couldn't recall too many times when someone had upset and offended her to the extent that Russel had. She would have never thought he could be so mean in a trillion years! Her tail coiled and uncoiled as she replayed the conversation they had just moments ago. Earlier, she had been so happy at the idea caring for a pretend-child with him. She thought it would be a fun game to pretend to be parents, as she really did want to have her own little one one day. But, clearly, the "joys of parenthood" were greatly exaggerated. Totally exaggerated!

"Stupid Russel," Minka grumbled as she released her frustrations through her art, violently hitting the canvas with various hues of paint. "I just wanted to have fun with this, but no. He's always got to suck the fun out of every – little – thing!" Minka iterated each word with a firm smack of her hand against the wet canvas. "Serves me right for choosing him –"

"Minka? Are... you okay?"

The frustrated little monkey turned to look up at the concerned Blythe. Blythe kept a safe distance, but bent down to rest on one knee in front of her paint-splattered friend. "What's up? Where's Russel and your egg?"

"Oh. I'm sure Russel's taking good care of Bianca," Minka said, her voice dripping in resentful sarcasm. "Probably has her locked in a padded cell, cut off from all the fun in the world. That's just how he'd want it! Blythe, can you believe he thought I was a bad parent all because I was playing with the egg?" Minka didn't wait for a response as she shook her head in disgust and disbelief. "Who does he think he is, right?"

Blythe nodded. "I understand how you feel. But, Minka... you know you have to be careful with babies, yeah?"

"I know! But what's the harm in just swinging around and letting loose? It's not like I dropped her or anything," Minka said, growing defensive. "I would never want to hurt her! Even if it is just my pretend-baby...!"

Blythe smiled warmly. "I know you'd never do anything to hurt anyone, especially 'Bianca'. But even good intentions can have bad results, Minka. Even if you only wanted to have fun and play, you could have accidentally hurt the egg. Russel just wanted you to cut back, I think. He was just worried."

Minka's eyes widened and she grew silent. She sat down and wrapped her arms around her legs. "Well... when you put it that way, I guess that was all he was trying to say. But he said it all wrong!" Minka pouted.

Blythe scooped up the pig-tailed pet. "I'm sure he didn't mean it. Come on, let's go check on Daddy Russel."

On the other side of the pet shop, Russel had comfortably seated his "son" and had somehow produced a small chalkboard and learning books to start lessons. The earlier, the better, he always believed. The sooner Dexter learned to use sound reasoning and critical thinking, the smoother things would go in his life! It was just common sense.

"Now, Dexter, we'll soon be getting into Physics," he went on, looking at the little egg. He imagined it nodding obediently. "Good boy."

Blythe sat down next to the egg with Minka in her lap. Russel regarded Minka nonchalantly. "Hi. Came to join the lesson?"

"Not quite. I already have plenty of those, thanks," Blythe laughed. She looked at the multitude of books surrounding the egg. Even Minka seemed somewhat impressed (and a little horrified) at the many difficult subjects Russel had planned to go over in only one day. "Wow... uh... Russel? You do know that the egg is supposed to represent a baby, right?"

"Yes. What's your point?" Russel blinked.

Blythe sighed, setting back down one of the heavy textbooks. "I think you're going a little bit too far with the education part."

"Too far?!" Russel sputtered. "Education is the most important thing for a growing child! How can I sit back and not give Dexter the best education possible for when he goes out on his own? What kind of parent would be comfortable not giving their children the best possible chance?"

"I completely get what you're saying," Blythe conceded. "Education is important. But I'm not so sure it is the most important, Russel. Ever hear of the old saying 'all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'?"

"Who's Jack?" Minka asked.

"It's just an expression, Minka," Russel clarified. He rubbed his chin, reluctantly setting down his pointer. "I... guess you have a bit of a point there."

Blythe smiled. "And I fully believe in it. Why do you think lots of schools have recess or try to make fun projects like these?"

"At least it was supposed to be fun," Russel said guiltily, glancing at Minka. "I'm sorry. I guess I got too carried away. Maybe things were better off just letting you play instead."

Minka smiled and hopped down to meet him. "Russel, I'm sorry too. I don't think you're wrong for wanting Bianca – or Dexter," Russel smiled. "To be super-smart! I want him or her to be sharp too! But I just wanted it to learn how to relax and have fun, because that's part of what makes life so great, you know!"

Blythe looked on proudly and patted both of them fondly on the head. "You know what? Both of you were right; but parents need to learn to compromise and work together and bring out a balance of the two. Have fun, but have discipline. Learn as much as you can, but not take life so seriously. Agreed?"

"Agreed!" Russel and Minka laughed. They hugged each other briefly and happily returned to tending their egg.

"We should both agree on a name," Minka said, bouncing up and down.

"I agree. How about... Dee-Dee?" Russel suggested. "I like D names, and you like cute names."

"That's great!" Minka said, clapping her hands. She smiled warmly at their baby in Russel's hands. "Dee-Dee, we're going to really take good care of you from now on."

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Author's Note: First time writing about one of my OTPs, and it was super fun! Russinka is such a great ship for me.